عنْ أبي عبدِ الله الزُّبَيْرِ بنِ العوَّامِ رضي الله عنه قالَ: قالَ رسولُ الله صَلّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وسَلَّم: «لأَنْ يَأْخُذَ أَحَدُكُم أَحْبُلَهُ ثُمَّ يَأْتِيَ الجَبَلَ، فَيَأْتِيَ بحُزْمَةٍ مِن حَطَبٍ عَلى ظَهِرِهِ فَيَبيعَهَا، فَيَكُفَّ اللهُ بها وَجْهَهُ، خَيْرٌ لَهُ مِنْ أَن يَسأَلَ النَّاسَ، أَعطَوْهُ أَوْ مَنَعُوهُ» رواه البخاري.
Abu 'Abdullah al-Zubayr ibn al-'Awwam (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "That one of you should take his ropes and go to the mountain, then bring back a bundle of firewood on his back and sell it, and by it Allah preserves his face, is better for him than that he should beg from people, whether they give him or refuse him." Narrated by al-Bukhari.
الشرح · explanation
أحبله: حباله، جمع حبل. فيكفّ الله بها وجهه: يغنيه بثمنها عن سؤال الناس، والتعبير بالوجه لأن السؤال يكون به وهو أشرف جزء بالإنسان. منعوه: ردوه ولم يعطوه.
His ropes (ahbul): his ropes, the plural of habl (rope). Allah preserves his face by it: He makes him independent through its price from begging people; the expression uses "face" because begging is done with it, and it is the most honourable part of a person. Refuse him: turn him away and do not give him.
الدروس · lessons
الحث على العمل لتحصيل الرزق ولو امتهن المكلف حرفة بسيطة وحقيرة في نظر الناس فهي خير من ذلّ المسألة، والأنبياء رعوا الأغنام. إجهاد النفس في تحصيل الرزق الحلال وترك الحرام طاعة لله تعالى. كره وقبح مسألة النّاس في الإسلام لما تُدخله على السائل من الذل وعلى المسؤول من الضِّيق. حرص الإسلام على كرامة المرء وفضل التكسب باليد على سؤال الناس.
Encouragement to work to obtain provision, even if the person takes up a craft that is simple and lowly in people's eyes, for it is better than the humiliation of begging; and the prophets tended sheep. Exerting oneself to obtain lawful provision and leaving the unlawful is an act of obedience to Allah Most High. The detestability and ugliness of begging people in Islam, because of the humiliation it brings upon the beggar and the distress it brings upon the one asked. Islam's concern for a person's dignity, and the virtue of earning by one's hand over begging from people.