9/26. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 1639 — Begging and Self-Respect
Situations Where Begging Is Allowed And Where It Is Not Allowed
Begging and Self-Respect Hadith: When Asking Is Excused
Sunan Abi Dawud : 1639
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 1639
حَدَّثَنَا حَفْصُ بْنُ عُمَرَ النَّمَرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ بْنِ عُمَيْرٍ، عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ عُقْبَةَ الْفَزَارِيِّ، عَنْ سَمُرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " الْمَسَائِلُ كُدُوحٌ يَكْدَحُ بِهَا الرَّجُلُ وَجْهَهُ فَمَنْ شَاءَ أَبْقَى عَلَى وَجْهِهِ وَمَنْ شَاءَ تَرَكَ إِلاَّ أَنْ يَسْأَلَ الرَّجُلُ ذَا سُلْطَانٍ أَوْ فِي أَمْرٍ لاَ يَجِدُ مِنْهُ بُدًّا " .
Samura b. Jundub Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: Acts of begging are lacerations with which a man disfigures his face, so he who wishes may preserve his self-respect, and he who wishes may abandon it; but this does not apply to one who begs from a ruler, or in a situation which makes it necessary.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1639In-book reference : Book 9, Hadith 84English translation : Book 9, Hadith 1635
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 1639
This begging and self-respect hadith gives a strong image. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said acts of begging are lacerations by which a man disfigures his face. Then he said that whoever wishes may preserve his face, and whoever wishes may leave it. But the hadith also gives exceptions: asking a ruler, or asking in a matter from which a person finds no escape. That balance matters. The narration discourages casual begging and repeated asking, but it does not close the door on need. For search terms such as “hadith about begging and self respect,” “begging from ruler hadith,” and “asking in necessity Islam,” this text gives both warning and allowance in one short report.
What we learn from this hadith
- Begging without need harms a person’s dignity in this wording.
- The hadith makes an exception for asking a ruler.
- It also allows asking in a matter of real necessity.
- The text balances self-restraint with genuine need.
