Az-Zubair b. al-‘Awwam reported God’s messenger as saying,
“It is better for one of you to take his rope, bring a load of firewood on his back and sell it, God thereby preserving his self-respect, than that he should beg from people whether they give him anything or refuse him.”
Mu'awiya reported God’s messenger as saying,
“Do not beg importunately, for I swear by God that none of you who asks me for anything and gets out of me what he asks when I disapprove of it will receive a blessing concerning what I have given him.”
Hakim b. Hizam said he begged from God’s messenger and he gave him something, later he begged again and when he had given him something he said,
“Hakim, this property is green and sweet, and he who receives it with a liberal mind will be blessed in it, but he who receives it with an avaricious mind will not be blessed in it, being like one who eats without being satisfied. And the upper hand is better than the lower one.” *
Hakim told that he replied, “Messenger of God, by Him who sent you with the truth, I shall not accept anyone’s bounty after this till I leave the world.”
(Bukhari and Muslim.)
* The upper hand is that of the giver and the lower hand is that of the receiver. The sentence is equivalent to saying that it is better to give than to receive.
‘Abdallah b. ‘Umar reported God’s messenger as saying,
“When a man is always begging from people the result will be that he will come on the day of resurrection with no flesh on his face.”
