the caliphate, he was allotted two dirhams a day from the public treasury. He had given away all his wealth, and the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, asked him:

“What have you left for your family?”

He replied: “I have left them Allah and His Messenger.”

Despite this, he would take nothing from anyone—neither charity, nor futūh (gifts), nor vowed offerings. Rather, he lived solely on his own earnings. This contrasts with someone who claims to rely upon Allah and gives away all his wealth, imagining that he is following al-Siddīq’s example, while accepting things from people, whether by asking or without asking. This was not the way of Abū Bakr al-Siddīq. Indeed, al-Musnad relates:

“When al-Siddīq dropped his whip, he would dismount and pick it up, rather than say to anyone, ‘Hand it to me.’ He would say, ‘My beloved instructed me not to ask people for anything.’”

How far removed this is from those who make begging and asking people a path to Allah, even instructing the spiritual aspirant to beg from others!

Hadiths transmitted from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, through numerous independent chains prohibit asking people except in cases of necessity. He said:

“Begging is not lawful except for someone burdened by an overwhelming debt, a grievous blood-money liability, or dire poverty.”

Allah Most High says:

“So when you have finished, strive hard.”

“And to your Lord direct your longing.”

Thus He commanded him to direct his longing to Allah alone. Some of these people regard supplicating Allah and asking of Him as a deficiency, yet they themselves ask people and persistently beg from them. For a servant to ask his Lord for what he needs is among the finest acts of worship, and it is the way of Allah’s prophets. He has commanded His servants to ask of Him, saying:

“And ask Allah of His bounty.”

And He praised