What is the ruling on begging in the mosque, and is preventing them from doing so considered a transgression against them?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : A questioner says: In our mosque, after the prayers, one of the beggars stands up and, in a loud voice, explains his situation and his need to the people, and sometimes two or three do so. Do we have the right to prevent such people, and if we do so, is that considered a transgression against them?
The Shaykh : First, it is said to these beggars: It is forbidden for you to beg and ask people for anything except in cases of dire necessity, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih Muslim 1041 And he (peace and blessings be upon him) informed that begging will continue with a man until he comes on the Day of Resurrection with no piece of flesh on his face, may Allah protect us from that. So asking people without dire necessity is among the major sins. And if we know that this questioner is asking for wealth in excess, we prevent him from asking and drive him out of the mosque, because he has committed a major sin, as the Messenger (may Allah’s prayer and peace be upon him) threatened those who ask people for their wealth in excess.
If we know that he is in need, but he stands before the people, disturbing them and preventing them from focusing on the meanings of the dhikr they recite after the prayer, then we have the right to prevent him. We prevent him from raising his voice and tell him: Go outside the mosque and say whatever you wish. As for the mosque, it was built for prayer, reciting the Qur'an, dhikr, and other such matters, not for begging and asking. Then, I think there is a matter for the authorities to prevent these beggars. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : First, it is said to these beggars: It is forbidden for you to beg and ask people for anything except in cases of dire necessity, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
He who begs the riches of others to increase his own is asking only for live coals, so let him ask a little or much.
من سأل الناس أموالهم تكثرا فإنما يسأل جمرا فليستقل أو ليستكثرIf we know that he is in need, but he stands before the people, disturbing them and preventing them from focusing on the meanings of the dhikr they recite after the prayer, then we have the right to prevent him. We prevent him from raising his voice and tell him: Go outside the mosque and say whatever you wish. As for the mosque, it was built for prayer, reciting the Qur'an, dhikr, and other such matters, not for begging and asking. Then, I think there is a matter for the authorities to prevent these beggars. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.