Sometimes is very hard to tell the difference...
It can be very difficult the distinguish between your professional career beggar and the one in genuine need.
I was approached today in the street by a lady, supposedly asking for enough money for a bus fair to visit her daughter.
I could just imagine what my companion was thinking:
" If you give it, it's all going to go to drink, cigarettes or even worse... You are being silly even to consider.... you are so gullible...No, don't even think about it... You are so trusting.."
I was thinking " What if it is genuine.... What if it an emergency and how will she get to destination... What if it is a matter of domestic violence, illness, threat...?"
It was a battle between reason and doubt.
Don't get me wrong. It was not even the amount of money. The sum was so small. It was a matter of if I should or shouldn't.
So I had to make a decision and I did.
I based my decision on the following:
My Intention: My intention was to help another human being in distress, for the sake of Allah.
Narrated 'Umar bin Al-Khattab: I heard Allah's Apostle saying, "The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended. So whoever emigrated for worldly benefits or for a woman to marry, his emigration was for what he emigrated for." Bukhari (Book 1, Hadith 1)
The Need of the Person asking:
Narrated Samurah ibn Jundub: The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: Acts of begging are lacerations with which a man disfigures his face, so he who wishes may preserve his self-respect, and he who wishes may abandon it; but this does not apply to one who begs from a ruler, or in a situation which makes it necessary. Abudawud (Book 9, Hadith 1635)
And I was also by Allah's permission in the better of the two positions, the position of giving:
Narrated Ibn 'Umar: I heard Allah's Apostle (p.b.u.h) while he was on the pulpit speaking about charity, to abstain from asking others for some financial help and about begging others, saying, "The upper hand is better than the lower hand. The upper hand is that of the giver and the lower (hand) is that of the beggar."
Bukhari (Book 24, Hadith 509)
So I gave the money...
What would you do?
2 comments:
mashaAllah sis! i think it was the right thing to do. i would have done the same if i had the money. i don't always have though.
Mashallah sis.
I would and have gave. Id rather give then not give and be questioned about it on the day of judgment.
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