12/34. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1039a — Who Is the True Miskin?
The poor person who cannot find enough to make him independent of means, but the people do not realize that he is in need, so they do not give Charity to him
Hadith About the True Miskin and Hidden Poverty
Sahih Muslim : 1039a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1039a
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا الْمُغِيرَةُ، - يَعْنِي الْحِزَامِيَّ - عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " لَيْسَ الْمِسْكِينُ بِهَذَا الطَّوَّافِ الَّذِي يَطُوفُ عَلَى النَّاسِ فَتَرُدُّهُ اللُّقْمَةُ وَاللُّقْمَتَانِ وَالتَّمْرَةُ وَالتَّمْرَتَانِ " . قَالُوا فَمَا الْمِسْكِينُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ " الَّذِي لاَ يَجِدُ غِنًى يُغْنِيهِ وَلاَ يُفْطَنُ لَهُ فَيُتَصَدَّقَ عَلَيْهِ وَلاَ يَسْأَلُ النَّاسَ شَيْئًا " .
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: The poor man (miskin) is not the one who goes round to the people and is dismissed with one or two morsels. and one or two dates. They (the Prophet's Companions) said: Messenger of Allah, then who is miskin? He said: He who does not get enough to satisfy him, and he is not considered so (as to elicit the attention of the benevolent people), so that charity way be given to him. and he does not beg anything from people.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1039aIn-book reference : Book 12, Hadith 130USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 5, Hadith 2261
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1039a
This hadith about the true miskin corrects a common way of thinking about poverty. The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) says that the poor person is not simply the one who goes around people and is given one or two morsels or one or two dates. When the Companions asked who the miskin is, the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) explained that it is someone who does not have enough, is not noticed by people so that charity may be given to him, and does not ask people for anything. The lesson is gentle but important. Some people in need are not visible. They may not beg, and others may not realize their hardship. This hadith guides believers to think more carefully about charity and hidden need.
What we learn from this hadith
- A miskin is not only someone who openly asks from people.
- Some needy people are not noticed by others.
- A person may be in need but still avoid begging.
- Charity should consider hidden poverty, not only visible asking.
