Question: My questions concern non-believers who go around begging. I understand that we as muslims don't turn away those who ask of us.

After carefully observing a gentleman that comes directly to my home to beg, I realized that he approaches no other house in my street and visits my home at least 2 times per week.

In the beginning he asked for money and after giving him on several occasions, there was a time when I was unable to and he then asked for foodstuff. Since then my offerings to this man is either in the form of money or foodstuff. At first, my intention of assisting him was sincere but lately I feel guilty.

Questions:
(1) Am I encouraging this man to beg? Is this right according to Islamic ruling?
(2) Do I continue to give this man although I feel as if I am being used? Will I still get blessings for my act?
(3) If I am not at home, is it permissible for my wife to give him? My wife has refused to attend to him in my absence on several occasions and the man then found his way to my workplace.

What do you recommend I do in this matter to please Allah?

Answer: If the person is really poor and needy and is in a position where he is forced to beg from others to seek a livelihood, then you may continue to help him in whatever way you can. The action of begging is not right in Islam, However, if a person is in a deserving state, you should not turn him away. By giving him something in this case, will not be considered as encouraging the act of begging.

If a person is not in a position to beg, and he is able to own a livelihood on his own without having to beg from others, then it will be advisable for you to refrain from giving this person since in doing so you will be encouraging him to beg.

Whenever you give something to a person, you will definitely get blessings. However, if you think that you are being used and you wish to stop this act of giving, then it will be permissible for you to do so and you will not be blameworthy.

If you are not at home, then it is upon your wife to assess the individual before giving. If she sees that a person is not deserving, then she may refrain from giving. If she does not feel safe in dealing with the person, she must not attend to him. The man should be told that he must not come to your home and call out to your wife when you are not at home.


And Allah knows best.
Mufti Waseem Khan