Az-Zubayr ibn al-‘Awwām (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said:
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«Az-Zubayr ibn al-‘Awwām (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "It is better for one of you to take his rope, go out and gather a bundle of firewood on his back, sell it, and thereby Allah preserves his dignity, than to ask people—whether they give him or withhold from him."»
Meaning translation ·
Explanation
The meaning in a few plain lines
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) explained that a person should do any kind of work—even if it means taking a rope, collecting firewood, carrying it on his back, and selling it—so that he can eat from it, give in charity from it, and remain independent of others, protecting his dignity from the humiliation of begging. This is better for him than asking people—whether they give to him or not—because begging brings disgrace, while the believer is honorable and not humiliated.
