23/86. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 2591 — When Asking Is Allowed
The Virtue Of The One Who Does Not Ask The People For Anything
Hadith About When Begging Is Permissible
Sunan an-Nasai : 2591
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 2591
أَخْبَرَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ عَمَّارٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ حَمْزَةَ - قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي الأَوْزَاعِيُّ، عَنْ هَارُونَ بْنِ رِئَابٍ، أَنَّهُ حَدَّثَهُ عَنْ أَبِي بَكْرٍ، عَنْ قَبِيصَةَ بْنِ مُخَارِقٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " لاَ تَصْلُحُ الْمَسْأَلَةُ إِلاَّ لِثَلاَثَةٍ رَجُلٍ أَصَابَتْ مَالَهُ جَائِحَةٌ فَيَسْأَلُ حَتَّى يُصِيبَ سِدَادًا مِنْ عَيْشٍ ثُمَّ يُمْسِكَ وَرَجُلٍ تَحَمَّلَ حَمَالَةً فَيَسْأَلُ حَتَّى يُؤَدِّيَ إِلَيْهِمْ حَمَالَتَهُمْ ثُمَّ يُمْسِكَ عَنِ الْمَسْأَلَةِ وَرَجُلٍ يَحْلِفُ ثَلاَثَةُ نَفَرٍ مِنْ قَوْمِهِ مِنْ ذَوِي الْحِجَا بِاللَّهِ لَقَدْ حَلَّتِ الْمَسْأَلَةُ لِفُلاَنٍ فَيَسْأَلُ حَتَّى يُصِيبَ قِوَامًا مِنْ مَعِيشَةٍ ثُمَّ يُمْسِكَ عَنِ الْمَسْأَلَةِ فَمَا سِوَى ذَلِكَ سُحْتٌ " .
Qabisah bin Mukhariq Narrated from:
I heard the Messenger of Allah says: 'It is not right to ask (for help) except in three cases: A man whose wealth has been destroyed by some calamity, so he asks until he gets enough to keep him going, then he refrains from asking: a man who undertakes a financial responsibility, and asks for help until he pays off whatever needs to be paid; and a man concerning whom three wise men from his own people swear by Allah that it is permissible for so-and-so to ask for help, so he asks until he has enough to be independent of means, then he refrains from asking. Apart from that. (asking) is unlawful.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 2591In-book reference : Book 23, Hadith 157English translation : Vol. 3, Book 23, Hadith 2592
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 2591
This hadith about when begging is permissible gives clear limits. The Prophet said asking is not right except in three cases. The first is a man whose wealth is destroyed by a calamity, so he asks until he has enough to keep going. The second is a man who takes on a financial responsibility, so he asks until it is paid. The third is a man whose need is confirmed by three wise men from his people, so he asks until he becomes independent of means. In each case, the hadith says he stops once the need is covered. Anything beyond that is described as unlawful. This narration is one of the clearest texts in this batch on the limits of asking.
What we learn from this hadith
- Asking is allowed only in the specific hardship cases mentioned.
- A person should stop asking once the need is met.
- Asking outside those limits is described as unlawful in the hadith.
