Aspects Of Islamic Faith — 92: A Simple Way To Earn A Living
16 February 2011Islamic Perspectives - Muslim
Journals
Arab News & Information - By Adil Salahi
Islam stresses that its followers should always seek
what maintains their dignity and self-respect. It is
not acceptable that a Muslim willingly maneuvers
himself into a position of humiliation. Hence, Islam
wants every Muslim to be self-sufficient, earning his
living and providing for his family. It does not
accept that some people rely on help provided by
others, unless they are totally unable to take care of
themselves. Abu Hurayrah quotes the Prophet Muhammad
(peace be upon him) as saying: "By Him who holds my
soul in His hand, it is better for anyone of you to
take his rope and tie up a bundle of firewood,
carrying it on his back, than to go to someone and beg
for help, whether that person gives him or refuses to
do so." (Related by Al-Bukhari).
The Prophet stressed this concept in different ways,
and on separate occasions, always emphasizing that
earning one's living was the honorable choice a Muslim
should always be keen to make. His companions once
praised one of them who dedicated his time to worship.
They said that he voluntarily fasted during the day
and stayed up most of the night in worship. The
Prophet asked them: "Who supports him?" They said that
his brother looked after him. The Prophet commented:
"His brother is the better person."
The two Hadiths, and others confirming the same
concept, make clear that no trade, however humble,
should be despised when it makes a person
self-sufficient. It is much better than begging for
help, regardless of the outcome of such begging. The
Prophet pointed out the simplest of jobs, which
requires no capital. A man can easily take an ax and
rope and go into the open fields, or the woods,
gathering firewood. In the Prophet's environment, this
was easy, as one could go out into the desert and cut
some firewood of its trees that do not belong to
anyone. Another Hadith tells us that a man asked the
Prophet for help out of zakat money. The Prophet asked
him whether he had anything to sell. The man said: "I
only have this overcoat I am wearing."
The Prophet took it from him and sold it for a few
dirhams. He gave him a small amount to buy food for
his family, and told him to buy with the rest an ax
and rope. He told him to go and collect firewood and
sell it. He was to report to him after two weeks. When
the man reported to the Prophet, he had new clothes
and was able to maintain his family. Needless to say,
in every social environment, there are jobs that could
earn a minimum living, without need for qualifications
or capital.
How does Islam view begging, then? The answer is that
the ruling differs according to circumstances. A
person who is genuinely poor and unable to earn his
living due to circumstances beyond his control may beg
for help, provided that he is not too persistent. On
the contrary, he should try hard to conceal his
poverty and maintain himself and his family through
his own means, however little they may be.
A poor person who is able to earn a living may not beg
for assistance. To do so is forbidden. Moreover, if
you are certain that such a person is able to work,
and you help him when he begs from you, you are
helping him to commit what is forbidden. This is also
prohibited according to many scholars.
The other case of a beggar who has enough to live on,
but finds begging an easy way to get rich, commits a
sin by begging. This is unanimously agreed by all
scholars. The Prophet warned against this. He said: "A
person continues to beg until he is resurrected on the
Day of Judgment without a piece of muscle on his
face." (Related by Al-Bukhari). He also said: "A
person who begs to increase his money is only
requesting brands of fire." (Related by Muslim).
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