Encouraging Livelihood by (working with) Hands and Abstaining from Begging

[a_brother]

Encouraging Livelihood by (working with) Hands and Abstaining from Begging
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Allah, the Exalted, says:

"Then when the (Jumu`ah) Salat (prayer) is ended, you may disperse through the land, and seek the Bounty of Allah (by working).'' (62:10)

539. Zubair bin `Awwam (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "It is far better for you to take your rope, go to the mountain, (cut some firewood) carry it on your back, and sell it and thereby save your face than begging from people whether they give you or refuse.''
[Al-Bukhari].

Commentary: As compared to beggary, this Hadith puts emphasis on hard work. However, people may look down upon manual labour or hard work, yet it is certainly far better than seeking charity servilely, because doing a job like this will certainly save a man's self-respect, whereas begging puts him in an awkward position. To put it in this way, Islam stands for a man's deliverance from indignity and teaches him to keep his sense of dignity.

540. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "It is better for anyone of you to carry a bundle of wood on his back and sell it than to beg of someone whether he gives him or refuses.''
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

541. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (PBUH) said, "(Prophet) Dawud (PBUH) ate only out of that which he earned through his manual work.''
[Al-Bukhari].

542. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "(Prophet) Zakariyya (PBUH) was a carpenter.''
[Al-Bukhari].

543. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (PBUH) said, "No food is better to man than that which he earns through his manual work. Dawud (PBUH), the Prophet of Allah, ate only out of his earnings from his manual work.''
[Al-Bukhari].

Commentary: Labour and manual work make the living of a man good, laudable and excellent. The Prophets also earned their living with their own work. Upon such earnings we get the Blessing of Allah. Some people wrongly think that earning a living is at variance with trust in Allah. Rather the right form of trust requires us to adopt ways and means according to our capacity and then to leave the matter to Allah. Also the Prophetic argument tells us that any manual skill or occupation, and the one who depends on it for his living should not be considered inferior. Instead, such people deserve respectable and worthy place in society because they emulate the example of the Prophets. In our society, a highbrow attitude towards them is unfortunate and deserves our deprecation. We have chosen to put some trades in a very low estimate and so is our view of those who are attached with them. In fact, no trade is inferior, nor is the person who adopts it.

source: http://abdurrahman.org/seerah/riyad/00/chap059.htm

 

[Aapa]

Salaam,


Your post is important. Many of us live in western societies with their awkward notion of social serivescs. Many become helpless and become dependent on the welfare system.
We as Muslims in the west need to become independent and help support our own peoples.. We have spoken of this before. We need to become serious and allow ample opportunity for our families to find honorable work within our communities.
We need to return to self-sufficiency and self-reliancy. It is for the good of our children.
I can not tell you how ashamed I am when I read the matrimonial sites. Women who would rather be alone than marry a man who works with his hands.
We need to become farmers again so our children will not be poisoned. We need to become craftsmen so we can take pride in our work.
I pray that you will get serious responses to this post.

 

[Proud_2b_Muslim]

:salam2:
thanks for sharing , jazak Allah khayran

 

[saif]

Good point apa
Before writing this mail I have checked in islamqa, if there was any ruling about getting social benefits without a compelling reason and I couldn't find it. This shows how far we are from the real issues. Is it all about performing some rituals and adopting a certain appearance?

 

[shaheeda35]

:salam2:
This is so true. Working with your hands is looked down upon. This is so sad. What better earnings to have than to have worked with your hands and break a sweat to put food on the table. I see men in social services offices, who are able to work, but are not(Allah knows best). I can understand temporary assistance, but not long term. We have to get ourselves together and get a little dirty.

 

[Aapa]

Salaam,

Sister, our Prophet peace and blessings of Allah subhana talla be upon him (swas) prayed and had traces of mud on his forehead. He toiled. We live in a world whereas toil and labor are not equated with power. But that is the subject of yet another topic.
We forget we must thank Allah subhana talla for the blessings He provides us. We are all beggars in one sense. When we see another human being all we can really do is wish for them what we have for ourselves. As usual it is that simple. I can not help but think of the wife of our Prophet, may the peace and blessings of Allah subhana talla be upon him (swas), she had but one date in her home and she gave it to the woman with two daughters, the date was cut into two so the children could eat.