9/23. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 1632 — The Deprived Poor Person
To Whom Zakat Is To Be Paid And The Definition Of A Wealthy Person
Miskin Hadith: The One Who Avoids Begging
Sunan Abi Dawud : 1632
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 1632
حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، وَعُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُمَرَ، وَأَبُو كَامِلٍ - الْمَعْنَى - قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَاحِدِ بْنُ زِيَادٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِثْلَهُ قَالَ " وَلَكِنَّ الْمِسْكِينَ الْمُتَعَفِّفُ " . زَادَ مُسَدَّدٌ فِي حَدِيثِهِ " لَيْسَ لَهُ مَا يَسْتَغْنِي بِهِ الَّذِي لاَ يَسْأَلُ وَلاَ يُعْلَمُ بِحَاجَتِهِ فَيُتَصَدَّقُ عَلَيْهِ فَذَاكَ الْمَحْرُومُ " . وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْ مُسَدَّدٌ " الْمُتَعَفِّفُ الَّذِي لاَ يَسْأَلُ " . قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ رَوَى هَذَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ ثَوْرٍ وَعَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ عَنْ مَعْمَرٍ جَعَلاَ الْمَحْرُومَ مِنْ كَلاَمِ الزُّهْرِيِّ وَهَذَا أَصَحُّ .
AbuHurayrah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said something similar as mentioned in the preceding tradition. This version adds: But the poor man (miskin) who abstains from begging from the people is one (according to the version of Musaddad who does not get enough so that he may not beg from the people, nor is his need known to the people, so that alms be given to him. This is the one who has been deprived. Musaddad did not mention the words "one who avoids begging from the people." Abu Dawud said: This tradition has been transmitted by Muhammad bin Thawr and 'Abd al-Razzaq on the authority of Ma'mar. They mentioned that the word "deprived" is the statement of al-Zuhri, and this is more sound.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1632In-book reference : Book 9, Hadith 77English translation : Book 9, Hadith 1628
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 1632
This miskin hadith builds on the previous report and adds more detail. It describes the poor person as one who abstains from begging. In the added wording, he does not have enough to be free of need, yet he does not ask people, and his need is not known so that sadaqah may be given to him. The report also mentions the word “deprived,” while Abu Dawud notes that this wording is more sound as a statement of al-Zuhri. The message for everyday readers is clear: hidden need can be easy to miss. People searching “hadith about poor who avoid begging” or “miskin muta'affif hadith” will find here a reminder to look beyond loud requests.
What we learn from this hadith
- Some poor people avoid asking even when they lack enough.
- A person’s need may remain unknown to others.
- Giving sadaqah requires care for quiet hardship.
- The narration records a note about which wording belongs to al-Zuhri.
