Sahih Muslim, 1041
sahihAbu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:
He who begs the riches of others to increase his own is asking only for live coals, so let him ask a little or much.
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو كُرَيْبٍ، وَوَاصِلُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الأَعْلَى، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ فُضَيْلٍ، عَنْ عُمَارَةَ بْنِ، الْقَعْقَاعِ عَنْ أَبِي زُرْعَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم
مَنْ سَأَلَ النَّاسَ أَمْوَالَهُمْ تَكَثُّرًا فَإِنَّمَا يَسْأَلُ جَمْرًا فَلْيَسْتَقِلَّ أَوْ لِيَسْتَكْثِرْ
.
Isnad
6 transmittersReferences2 variants
- In-Book Reference
- Book 12, Hadith 136
- USC-MSA web (English) reference
- Book 5, Hadith 2266 (deprecated numbering scheme)
Sharh · explanationclick to expand
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was keen to teach the Muslims and educate them to be well-mannered and to ask for anything in a good and dignified way. In this Hadīth, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) says that if a person asks people to give him from their wealth to increase his own wealth without truly being in need, the result of such asking is that this money will become live coals in the Hereafter with which he will be burned. This is also indicated by another version in Sunan Ibn Mājah: "he only asks for the live coals of Hell." Seeking to increase one's wealth is called live coals because live coals come because of it. This is similar to the verse that reads: {Indeed, those who consume the orphans’ property unjustly, only consume fire into their bellies} to the rest of the verse. [Surat an-Nisā’: 10] After this intimidation and clarification, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "so, let him ask for a little or much," i.e., let the beggar take a little of these live coals, or let him take much of it. This command was said by way of threatening, warning, and deriding. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) left it to the beggar whether he wants to ask for a little or much, seeking to deter him from that. Begging is self-humiliating, and Allah Almighty does not like it for the believer. A Muslim should be self-respecting. The Hadīth warns against devouring people's property unjustly. It shows disapproval of begging people without necessity. It also demonstrates the penalty for he who begs of people often. The Hadīth indicates that the Day of Judgment is the day of full recompense, be it a reward or punishment..