yet no one even notices him. That, then, is the truly destitute person—one whom people ought to seek out, put right, treat with tenderness, and show compassion.

This also implies that the destitute person himself should be patient, wait for relief from Allah, and not go around begging from people—whether they give or withhold. When someone fastens his heart to created beings he is left to them, as the Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever clings to something will be left to it.” Once you are handed over to the creation you forget the Creator. Entrust your affair to Allah; pin your hope, fear, reliance, and dependence on Him alone, for He will suffice you: “And whoever puts his trust in Allah—He will be enough for him. Allah will accomplish His purpose” (Quran 65:3). Whatever Allah has decreed for you will inevitably reach you; nothing can prevent it or push it back.

Therefore, the needy person must be patient and must refrain from asking people. He should beg only in the direst necessity: when carrion becomes lawful for him, begging likewise becomes lawful. Before that, as long as he can preserve his dignity—even if all he has to eat is a crust of bread or half a date—he should not ask. A person may persist in begging and begging until he comes on the Day of Resurrection with no shred of flesh left on his face—Allah’s refuge is sought—because he has peeled the skin of his face before people in this world. For that reason those who keep circulating among people begging while they are actually affluent are condemned—those who, when they die, are found to have thousands upon thousands of gold and silver coins, old currency, and paper money hoarded away.