Riyad as-Salihin

Abu Musa Al- Ash'ari (May Allah be pleased with him) said: "Six of us accompanied Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) in an expedition. We had one camel with us; we rode it in turn. Our feet got injured and my nails also fell out. We wrapped up our feet in rags; and because of this the campaign came to be known as Dhat-ur-Riqa' (the Campaign of Rags)." Abu Burdah (May Allah be pleased with him) says: Abu Musa reported this Hadith but regretted having done so. He said, "Would that I had not mentioned it!" He said so because he disliked to disclose anything concerning his deeds..

Some booty or prisoners of war were brought to Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and he distributed them, giving some men and neglecting others. Then, he was informed that those whom he had not given a thing were displeased. On this the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) praised Allah and glorified Him and said, "It is a fact that I give to one and overlook another. The one I ignore is dearer to me than the one I give. I give to those in whose hearts I perceive anxiety; others I leave with the richness and contentment that Allah has put in their hearts. One of them is 'Amr bin Taghlib." Upon this 'Amr bin Taghlib said, "By Allah I shall not accept a herd of red camels in exchange for what the Prophet said (about me).".

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The upper hand is better than the lower one; and begin (charity) with those who are under your care; and the best charity is (the one which is given) out of surplus; and he who wishes to abstain from begging will be protected by Allah; and he who seeks self- sufficiency will be made self-sufficient by Allah.".

Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Do not be importunate in begging. By Allah! If one of you asks me for something and I give it to him unwillingly, there is no blessing in what I give him.".

Seven, eight or nine people, including myself, were with Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) on an occasion when he (ﷺ) remarked, "Would you pledge allegiance to Messenger of Allah?" As we had taken oath of allegiance shortly before, we said, "We have already done so, O Messenger of Allah." He again asked, "Would you not pledge allegiance to Messenger of Allah?" So we stretched out our hands and said, "We have already made our pledge with you, O Messenger of Allah, on what should we make a pledge with you?" He said, "To worship Allah and not to associate anything with Him, to perform the five (daily) Salat and to obey." Then he added in a low tone, "And not to ask people for anything." Thereafter, I noticed that some of these people who were present did not ask anyone to pick up even the whip for them if it fell from their hands. .

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "If one of you would keep begging (of people) until he meets Allah (on the Day of Resurrection) his face will be without a shred of flesh.".

While Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was on his pulpit (in the mosque) delivering a Khutbah (religious talk) about Sadaqah (charity) and begging, he said, "The upper hand is better than the lower hand, the upper hand is the one which gives and the lower hand is the begging one.".

Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) 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.".

Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Begging is a cut that a person inflicts upon his face; except for asking a ruler, or under the stress of circumstances from which there is no escape.".

Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "He who suffers poverty and seeks relief from people, he will not be relieved; but he who seeks relief from Allah Alone, he will be relieved sooner or later.".

Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "He who guarantees me that he will not beg anything from anyone, I will guarantee him (to enter) Jannah." I said, "I give you the guarantee." Then Thauban (May Allah be pleased with him) never begged anything from anyone..

I stood as surety for a debt and came to Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) to seek his help in discharging it. Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Wait till we receive charity and I shall give you out of it." He (ﷺ) added, "O Qabisah, begging is not lawful except for three people. One who has incurred debt (for assuming guarantee), for him begging is permissible till the guarantee is discharged and he should then refrain; a person whose property has been destroyed by a calamity is allowed to beg till he attains self-sufficiency; a person who meets with dire necessity (due to hunger) provided that three men of understanding from his people affirm the genuineness (of his poverty), for him begging is lawful till he attains means of his subsistence. Other than these, O Qabisah, anything received through begging is unlawful, its recipient devours it unlawfully.".

Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "A needy person is not the one who goes from door to door, begging and is turned away with a morsel or two or with a date or two. But a needy person is the one who does not have enough to live upon, and neither from his appearance it occurs that he is needy and should be given alms, nor does he himself beg anything from others.".

Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would give me some gift, but I would say: "Give it to someone who needs it more than I." Thereupon he (ﷺ) would say, "Take it when it comes to you without begging and without greed, and add it to your property. Then use it yourself or give it away in charity. As for the rest, do not covet it." Salim said: 'Abdullah bin 'Umar would never ask anything from anyone, nor would he refuse accepting it when it was given to him. .

Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "It is far better for you to take your rope, go to the mountain, (cut some firewood) carry it on your back, and sell it and thereby save your face than begging from people whether they give you or refuse.".

Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "It is better for anyone of you to carry a bundle of wood on his back and sell it than to beg of someone whether he gives him or refuses.".

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "(Prophet) Dawud (ﷺ) ate only out of that which he earned through his manual work.".

Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "(Prophet) Zakariyya (ﷺ) was a carpenter.".

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "No food is better to man than that which he earns through his manual work. Dawud (ﷺ), the Prophet of Allah, ate only out of his earnings from his manual work.".

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Envy is permitted only in two cases: A man whom Allah gives wealth, and he disposes of it rightfully, and a man to whom Allah gives knowledge which he applies and teaches it.".