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Islamic Ruling on Begging
Author : The General Iftaa` Department
Date Added : 12-03-2023

 

Begging is a hateful phenomenon that harms the reputation of society, disturbs and distorts its image, and makes the beggar look needy and humiliated. The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) forbade that a Muslim humiliates himself where he said: "It is not for the believer to humiliate himself." {Transmitted by Tirmithi}.

He (PBUH) warned against begging and discouraged such an act because a beggar loses face in this life and the hereafter. Bukhari and Muslim reported that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: "When a man is always begging from people the result will be that he will come on the day of resurrection with no flesh on his face.”

Islam is keen on preserving human dignity and protecting it against humiliation and wretchedness, so we warn against begging, as it is incompatible with dignity that Allah The Almighty Has honored humans with as He, The Almighty Said (What means): "We have honoured the sons of Adam" {Al-Isra`/70}.

In addition, it is forbidden for the one who owns money that suffices their need or who is able to make a living to resort to begging, be that for money of Zakah, charity, or expiation, and it is forbidden to take it. Al-Shabramoulsi said: "If the beggar showed poverty and the giver thought that he was as such then what he was given isn`t his because he has tricked the giver who thought that he was poor. The proof of this is that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: "He who begs to increase his riches is in fact asking only for a live coal. It is up to him to decrease it or increase it." [Muslim]. And he (PBUH) said: "When you ask (for anything), ask it from Allah, and if you seek help, seek help from Allah.” Accordingly, the one who practices this ugly profession eats up people`s wealth unjustly and feeds his children using ill-gotten money.

 

Young children and women sent by their guardians to beg at traffic lights and the doors of houses of worship distort the beautiful image of our blessed country. They even live on the streets barefooted, wear vulgar clothes, show destituteness and humiliation to turn people's emotions and deceive them to think that hunger drove them to do this.

Islam has tackled this abusive phenomenon by prohibiting begging, encouraging work and production, and making man`s best meal that which he has earned by working with his own hands. The Prophet (PBUH) said: "Nobody has ever eaten a better meal than that which one has earned by working with one's own hands, and the Prophet of Allah David (PBUH) used to eat from the earnings of his manual labor." {Bukhari}.

One who is needy should turn to the concerned authorities in our country. The beggar takes people's money unrightfully and will be held to account for that Before Almighty Allah on the Day of Judgment. The Jordanian law regards begging without a lawful excuse a crime for which a person deserves punishment because it is eating up people's wealth unjustly, in addition to being a means of deception. Moreover, people should stop giving beggars and the latter should be preached not to eat people's wealth unjustly. And Allah The Almighty Knows Best.

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling on Zakat al-Fitr?

Zakat al-Fitr is obligatory upon every Muslim for themselves and for those they are financially responsible for, provided they possess wealth that is surplus to their and their family's needs on the night and day of Eid.
Ibn Umar reported: "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ made Zakat al-Fitr obligatory—one sa‘ (measure) of dates or one sa‘ of barley—upon every Muslim, whether slave or free, male or female, young or old." [Narrated by Al-Bukhari]
Its estimated amount is approximately 2,500 grams of wheat or rice, and the General Iftaa` Department issues an annual ruling specifying its monetary value.

What is the ruling on someone who curses the religion or commits an act of disbelief during the day in Ramadan?

Whoever apostatizes (leaves Islam) while fasting, their fast is invalid. Cursing the religion is an act of apostasy (may Allah protect us from it). Such a person must return to Islam by pronouncing the Shahadah (testimony of faith), seek Allah’s forgiveness, refrain from eating and drinking for the rest of the day, and make up for that day’s fast later.

What is the Islamic ruling on breaking the bones of the 'aqīqah?

All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
It is Sunnah not to break the bones of the 'aqīqah. Rather, each bone should be separated at its joint — as a good omen and expression of hope for the soundness and wholeness of the newborn's limbs. However, if one does break the bones, it is not considered disliked (makrūh) — it is simply regarded as contrary to what is preferable (khilāf al-awlā). And Allah Almighty knows best.

Is the Saying "Whatever is Taken by the Sword of Shyness is Forbidden" an Authentic Ḥadīth?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
The saying "Whatever is taken by the sword of shyness is forbidden" is not an authentic ḥadīth, though its underlying meaning is sound. The established sharʿī principle is that a Muslim's wealth is not lawful for anyone to take except with his wholehearted consent, as Allah the Almighty says {what means}: "O you who have believed, do not consume one another's wealth unjustly, but only [in lawful] business by mutual consent." [Al-Nisā/ 29] And the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Listen to me and you will live well: do not wrong others, do not wrong others, do not wrong others. Indeed, a man's wealth is not lawful except with his full, willing consent." (Reported by Aḥmad in his Musnad.) Whatever is taken through the pressure of shyness or social embarrassment runs directly counter to genuine, wholehearted consent.
The jurists have explicitly stated that whatever is taken by means of the "sword of shyness" carries the same ruling as that which is taken by coercion — it must be returned to its rightful owner.
Ibn Ḥajar al-Haytamī, may Allah have mercy upon him, states in al-Fatāwā al-Kubrā (Vol.3/P.30): "Do you not see the reported scholarly consensus that whoever has something taken from him purely out of shyness, without his genuine consent, does not pass ownership of it to the one who took it? They reasoned that this constitutes a form of coercion through the 'sword of shyness,' comparable to coercion at the point of an actual sword. Indeed, many people would rather submit to the literal sword and endure the pain of its wound than submit to this first kind of coercion, out of fear for their dignity and standing — which people of sound judgment hold dear and guard most fiercely." And Allah the Almighty knows best.

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