9/28. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 1646 — Ask Only When There Is No Escape
On Abstinence From Begging
Hadith About Begging Only When Necessary
Sunan Abi Dawud : 1646
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 1646
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ، عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ رَبِيعَةَ، عَنْ بَكْرِ بْنِ سَوَادَةَ، عَنْ مُسْلِمِ بْنِ مَخْشِيٍّ، عَنِ ابْنِ الْفِرَاسِيِّ، أَنَّ الْفِرَاسِيَّ، قَالَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَسْأَلُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لاَ وَإِنْ كُنْتَ سَائِلاً لاَ بُدَّ فَاسْأَلِ الصَّالِحِينَ " .
Ibn al-Firasi Narrated from:
Al-Firasi asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ): May I beg, Messenger of Allah? The Prophet (ﷺ) said: No, but if there is no escape from it, beg from the upright.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1646In-book reference : Book 9, Hadith 91English translation : Book 9, Hadith 1642
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 1646
This Hadith about begging gives a simple and balanced answer. Al-Firasi asked the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم if he may beg. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said no. Then he added that if there is no escape from asking, the person should ask from the upright. The wording keeps two points together. First, begging is not something to choose without need. Second, if a person is trapped by a hard situation and must ask, he should choose people of goodness and honesty. The Hadith does not list every type of need, so the explanation should stay close to its wording. It teaches restraint, careful choice, and respect for one’s dignity while facing hardship.
What we learn from this hadith
- Begging should not be a first choice.
- If asking becomes unavoidable, the Hadith points to upright people.
- A believer should protect dignity while dealing with real need.
