Fatwa No. (16486) Q: The custom of begging has spread in many Muslim lands, especially in mosques and centers of learning
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Fatwa No. ( 16486 )
Q: The custom of begging has spread in many Muslim lands, especially in mosques and centers of learning, so that the imam hardly turns his face to the worshippers after the taslim before one or more beggars jump in front of the rows, presenting their situation, and perhaps weeping to incline hearts and seize them, while asking Muslims for help and assistance, and perhaps feigning that he is afflicted with a disability from which he is free. This matter leads, in addition to deceiving Muslims and taking their money without right, to disturbing those who are engaged in dhikr who perform the Sunnah dhikr after the prayer, so the beggar cuts off their dhikr and disturbs their minds, so that one hardly knows what he remembered or forgot.
Is there any harm, O Shaykh, in the imam warning the worshippers against giving to beggars of this description? And if it is most likely that the beggar is lying, is it permissible to expel him from the mosque? And is warning Muslims about some beggars and urging them not to give to them, due to what may appear of corruption in their claims, considered the rebuking that Allah has forbidden His servants from, in His saying:[Ad-Duhaa 93:10] ? And finally, what is meant by the rebuking or driving away in the noble verse? And what is the description of the questioner whom it is not permissible to rebuke? Please inform us, may Allah reward you.
A: It is permissible to ask people for some money for the needy person who does not find what suffices him and is unable to earn a living, so he asks people for the amount that only satisfies his need. As for the non-needy, or the needy person who is able to earn a living, it is not permissible for him to ask, and what he takes from people in this case is forbidden for him; due to the hadith of Qabisa ibn Mukhariq al-Hilali (may Allah be pleased with him), who said:Mishkat al-Masabih 1837 . It was narrated by Ahmad, Muslim, al-Nasa'i, and Abu Dawud, and the hadith: and the hadith: Sunan al-Bayhaqi 10:566 It was narrated by the five except Ibn Majah and al-Nasa'i , and it is obligatory to advise him, and it is upon the scholars to clarify this to people in the Friday sermons and others, and in the media. The rebuking of the questioner that is forbidden in the saying of Allah the Exalted: [Ad-Duhaa 93:10] means: driving him away and raising one's voice at him, and it includes
the questioner for money, and the questioner about Islamic rulings, but this does not prevent guiding the questioner who is mistaken in his question, and advising him with wisdom and good exhortation. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions.
Q: The custom of begging has spread in many Muslim lands, especially in mosques and centers of learning, so that the imam hardly turns his face to the worshippers after the taslim before one or more beggars jump in front of the rows, presenting their situation, and perhaps weeping to incline hearts and seize them, while asking Muslims for help and assistance, and perhaps feigning that he is afflicted with a disability from which he is free. This matter leads, in addition to deceiving Muslims and taking their money without right, to disturbing those who are engaged in dhikr who perform the Sunnah dhikr after the prayer, so the beggar cuts off their dhikr and disturbs their minds, so that one hardly knows what he remembered or forgot.
Is there any harm, O Shaykh, in the imam warning the worshippers against giving to beggars of this description? And if it is most likely that the beggar is lying, is it permissible to expel him from the mosque? And is warning Muslims about some beggars and urging them not to give to them, due to what may appear of corruption in their claims, considered the rebuking that Allah has forbidden His servants from, in His saying:
And as for the petitioner, do not repel [him].
وَأَمَّا السَّائِلَ فَلا تَنْهَرْA: It is permissible to ask people for some money for the needy person who does not find what suffices him and is unable to earn a living, so he asks people for the amount that only satisfies his need. As for the non-needy, or the needy person who is able to earn a living, it is not permissible for him to ask, and what he takes from people in this case is forbidden for him; due to the hadith of Qabisa ibn Mukhariq al-Hilali (may Allah be pleased with him), who said:
Qabisa b. Mukhariq said he had become a guarantor for a payment* and he went to God’s messenger to beg from him regarding it. He said, “Wait till I receive the sadaqa and I shall order it to be given you.” He then said, “Begging, Qabisa, is allowable only to one of three classes: a man who has become a guarantor for a payment, to whom begging is allowed till he gets it, after which he must stop begging; a man whose property has been destroyed by a calamity which has smitten him, to whom begging is allowed till he gets what will support life (or he said, what will provide a reasonable subsistence); and a man who has been smitten by poverty, the genuineness of which is confirmed by three intelligent members of his people, to whom begging is allowed till he gets what will support life (or he said, what will provide a reasonable subsistence). Any other reason for begging, Qabisa, is forbidden, and one who engages in such consumes it as a thing which is forbidden.”** Muslim transmitted it. * The word hamala is used of an undertaking to pay a debt or bloodwit. ** The word here used is suht, for its use of Quran (5:42,62,63)
تحملت حمالة، فأتيت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أسأله فيها، فقال: أقم حتى تأتينا الصدقة فنأمر لك بها، ثم قال: " يا قبيصة ، إن المسألة لا تحل إلا لأحد ثلاثة: رجل تحمل حمالة فَحَلَّت له المسألة حتى يصيبها ثم يمسك، ورجل أصابته جائحة اجتاحت ماله فحلت له المسألة حتى يصيب قوامًا من عيش - أو قال: سدادًا من عيش - ورجل أصابته فاقة حتى يقول ثلاثة من ذوي الحجا من قومه: لقد أصابت فلانًا فاقة، فحلت له المسألة حتى يصيب قوامًا من عيش - أو قال: سدادًا من عيش - فما سواهن من المسألة يا قبيصة فسحت يأكلها صاحبها سحتًاWhoever asks people for much, he is only asking for embers.
من سأل الناس تكثرًا فإنما يسأل جمرًاIndeed, charity is not permissible for the rich, nor for one who has a sound means of livelihood.
إن الصدقة لا تحل لغني ولا لذي مرة سويAnd as for the petitioner, do not repel [him].
وَأَمَّا السَّائِلَ فَلا تَنْهَرْthe questioner for money, and the questioner about Islamic rulings, but this does not prevent guiding the questioner who is mistaken in his question, and advising him with wisdom and good exhortation. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.