A number of muslims and non-muslims will be wondering why there are so many Almajiris all over the country linning-up along major roads begging in different state capitals and major streeets, some might have questioned the position of islam on this issue, shebi most of them na muslim now? Yes, they are but this is islamic perspectives on begging and giving alms to the needy.
PEACE BE UPON YOU AS YOU READ ON
The help we offer for the sake of Allah’s
acceptance and approval is not left without a
reward. Whether the other party deserves it or
not does not change this judgment. However,
as much as possible, we should search for the
real needy people and donate accordingly.
Whatever motive lies beneath begging, there is
a bitter reality that we all will accept: That
illness is an unyielding wound of the society.
As it seems, beggars fall into these categories:
those deprived of a chance of finding a job and
working because of such bodily handicaps as
paralysis, physical disability, illness or old age;
those who, though handicapped, do not make
do with what they have and crave ample
money; those who are physically and
spiritually sound but choose begging as a
means of livelihood and as a job.
Prophet Muhammad, who carried out radical
and essential revolutions in society, brought
about certain solutions to the illness of
begging. The following anecdote reveals the
responsibility laid on those who beg though
they are in no need, and shows us in which
circumstances begging can be permitted:
Anas bin Malik narrates:
One day, a person from Ansar came to The
Prophet and asked for something. The Prophet
asked him:
“Do you have anything at home?”
“Yes, Allah’s Messenger, we have a piece of
cloth. We lay some of it beneath us, and with
some of it we cover ourselves. We have a
water pot; we drink water from it.”
“Then, get up immediately, bring both your
cloth and water pot to me.”
The person fetched them both.
The Prophet took the cloth and the water pot
in his hand, and showing them to the people
who were present, he asked, “Is there anybody
who will buy these two articles?”
One person among them said, “I will give one
Dirham to both.”
The Prophet repeated a couple of times: “Is
there not anybody who gives more than one
Dirham?” Afterwards, someone else said, “I will
buy them in return for two Dirhams.” The
Prophet sold the cloth and the water pot to
that person. He took the two Dirhams and gave
it to the possessor of the articles; then he said:
“Buy food with one Dirham of this money and
give it to your family; and with the other one
Dirham, buy an axe and bring it to me.”
The man left, bought an axe and came back.
The Prophet put a stick to the axe himself.
Giving it to the man, he said: “Take this, go
and cut some wood, gather it and sell. I should
not see you for fifteen days.”
The man went away, cut wood, gathered and
sold it. When he came to the presence of the
Prophet, he had made fifteen Dirhams. With
some of it, he bought clothes and with some,
foods. Thereupon, The Prophet said:
“Instead of coming to the Day of Resurrection
as a black point because of begging, this state
of yours is better.
“Begging is permissible only for the following
three kinds of people: 1. The one stricken by
poverty which causes one ‘to sprawl on the
earth’ (extreme poverty), 2. The one in
insurmountable debt, 3. The one who took on
blood money in order to reconcile people.” In
another narration, there is a fourth condition:
“The one who suffers a very painful chronic
illness can ask for as much money as he is in
need of.” 1
It is clearly understood from the hadith
(saying of The Prophet) that only the one who
is so distressed, handicapped and disabled to
work - if there is no one to take care of him/
her, and if the state does not help, either - can
ask from others only so much money as to
meet his/her essential needs, and beg for it.
The state of being indebted should also be
added to those conditions. Other than those
requisite conditions, those who take begging as
a means of livelihood incur a grave
responsibility. The Prophet’s warnings for such
people are as follows:
“Whoever asks from people their possessions
in order to increase his/her possessions, s/he
asks for but a piece of fire. Either for less of
it, or for more, as s/he wills.” 2
That hadith views begging, without the need to
do so, as non-permitted and forbidden,
indicating that it results in punishment in Hell.
Therefore, such people’s proliferating should
not be allowed so that the number of people
committing such forbidden acts would not
increase.
The intended meaning in one of the verses in
the chapter ad-Duha in the Qur’an, meaning
“Nor chide and drive away the petitioner.” is
‘not to turn down the one who asks a question
of wisdom and who wants to learn something’.
Otherwise, it should not be interpreted as not
turning down anybody asking for something (3)
.This is because begging would be encouraged
that way.
BARKA DE JUMAH

Islam is strongly against begging.

How somw Muslims turned it into business is so beyond my comprehension.

Thank you op, for bringing this up.

Some masjids (mosques) do take the effort to enlighten worshippers (especially on Jum'ah day) on the prohibition of begging in Islam. However, the absence of a proper welfare structure and the compassionate nature of our people makes alms-giving to beggars override the prohibition.

The Zakat system is designed to ensure the redistribution of wealth amongst different strata of the society - there are two things to note in our personal attitudes as Muslim(ah)s:

1. Care for neighbors: the multiple effect of communal relations reduces the need.

2. Be a Mr/Mrs Charity: unlike popular notions, charity isn't just about expending, it's helping others via what you have. Whilst 'fishery' ain't bad, we tend to pay more emphasis to giving fishes to others instead of sharing knowledge of how to catch fishes.