| 1 | O People! There is no other deity but Allah! |
| 2 | The Compassionate, the Beneficent, the Gracious; |
| 3 | All prayers and homage be to Allah and no other! |
| 4 | A child quickly learns not to touch the firestones; |
| 5 | All men and women must learn what is good and bad for their soul. |
| 6 | Some declare certain days and times taboo for certain actions, |
| 7 | Prohibiting certain rituals such as the Maniacs and Rabbi. |
| 8 | The Yahudi forbid the wearing of head dress as a form of dishonor and hiding ones self from Allah. |
| 9 | Taboo and superstition is not sufficient reason for an action to be prohibited or permitted. |
| 10 | The Way of Islam prohibits certain actions that cause men and women to digress backwards, |
| 11 | Actions that promote ill will and allow evil to flourish. |
| 12 | Of actions being forbidden, it is forbidden for a Muslin to beg. |
| 13 | Every man who shall beg in order to increase his property, Allah will diminish it. |
| 14 | Verily Allah loves a Muslim with a family, who is poor, |
| 15 | And withholds himself from the unlawful and from begging. |
| 16 | Whoso opens unto himself the door of begging, |
| 17 | Allah will open unto him the door of poverty. |
| 18 | Verily it is better for any of you to take your rope and bring a bundle of wood upon your back and sell it, |
| 19 | In which case Allah guards your honor than to beg of people, whether they give or not. |
| 20 | Whoever hath food for a day and a night, it is prohibited for him to beg. |
| 21 | Verily it is not right for the rich to ask nor for a strong, robust person; |
| 22 | But it is allowed for the indigent and the infirm. |
| 23 | Do not confuse poverty with austerity. |
| 24 | A good man seeks a life dedicated to Allah and leads an austere life free of material distractions, |
| 25 | Whereas the poor man is too distracted with the material severity of their circumstances. |
| 26 | Begging is a transgression for Muslims, |
| 27 | But refusing to help those in genuine need is a much greater transgression. |
| 28 | Poverty breeds ignorance, whereas austerity sustains holiness. |
| 29 | Shame on those that change or corrupt the words of Allah concerning simplicity and austerity to the promotion of poverty. |
| 30 | If such men live in palaces and riches, seize them and hold them accountable for their evil. |
| 31 | Nothing saddens Allah more than people who live in filth and squalor as happily as pigs. |
| 32 | Such ignorance is the playground of demons. |
| 33 | Only tyrants and evil men claim poverty a virtue; |
| 34 | To then exempt themselves from their duties to Allah and to recruit fools for wars. |
| 35 | The Christians allow those who seek to beg as a sign of outward piety and reminder of the great prophet Jesus Christ. |
| 36 | Yet now, there are whole armies of beggars, no longer seeking to emulate a life of poverty and piety, |
| 37 | But who are forced by hidden overlords to pressure, frighten and sometime rob people of cities. |
| 38 | Beggars have become bedfellows with thieves and all kinds of low moral people who sell their bodies, |
| 39 | Their children and anything else in the promise of pleasure, |
| 40 | Only to take the life of those poor unfortunate souls who succumb to their offering. |
| 41 | A man who has taken an oath to austerity to honor the message of Allah should be commended. |
| 42 | Yet, such a man should not require the need to beg on the main street of the town, |
| 43 | In order for the town to recognize their obligations to Allah and ensure the man is properly housed and fed. |
| 44 | Thus, there is no valid reason for anyone who is called to higher purpose to be on the street corners, begging for food. |
| 45 | Similarly, families and others who seek assistance should be able to bring up their needs to the council without being denied a voice. |
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Sufa 138 - The Forbidden (Al-Haraam)