BANNING OF BEGGARS: GOV. NASIR EL-RUFAI TOES THE LINE OF SUNNAH

By Ibrahim Teslim, Abdullahi

At the second week of the month of July, 2015 I watched in the news that Governor of Kaduna State Nasir El-Rufai placed a ban on beggars to curtail the Boko Haram insurgency in the state. Although there were many eyebrows from several quarters on what the government will provide as an alternative to these beggars which will alleviate their suffering. Interestingly I watched with amusement on Channelstv how the beggars were protesting on the ban action. I even saw one of them who spoke very good English impressive!

Without an iota of doubt, vast majority of beggars in Nigeria are Muslims. To place on percentage I think it won't be an exaggeration if I peg it at 95% muslim beggars in Nigeria. To make the matter worst, they even beg "Fisebilillah" meaning "in the path of Allah" as if Allah or Islam permits begging in all ramifications. And majority of non-muslims in Nigeria think there is a portion either in the Qur'an or the Hadith of Prophet (SAW) that authorizes people to beg as we have majority of muslim beggars all over the country.

As an Islamist, this is where I think I should come in to clearly state the position of Islam on begging and beggars in any society. To proceed, there is a need to know who a poor man is in the light of the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessing of Allah be upon him). The Prophet defines a poor man in the following hadith:

"The Prophet (SAW) says: "The poor one is not he who goes about begging for alms from one person to another and he is given a morsel or two, or a date fruit or two. 'Who then is the poor, Oh Apostle of Allah?' people asked. He replied: "He is the one who does not have any sufficient means, yet he is not noticed, so he is not given any charity, at the same time, he does not beg for anything from people". [Muslim]

The above quoted Hadith is self-explanatory. The Prophet (SAW) defines here who a poor man is. The position of Islam on begging for alms is made clear in this Hadith. People must work to earn decent living. Most of those who go about begging for alms in the name of Allah or culture are just exploitative and lazy. They should be told to desist from their dishonourable practice and learn a trade as Kaduna State Governor as rightly did.

They should be helped to settle down after learning the trade while everybody should take a proper care of the physically handicapped members of his immediate family. Worst still, some people live on the beggars. They claim to be keeping their money for them, while in reality they are exploiting the beggars. Muslims should not engage in this un-Islamic practice.

Similarly, the Prophet (SAW) in another hadith where he was talking on spending for other people. He relays as follows:

"Allah, the Most Exalted says: "Oh son of Adam, spend (for others), and I (Allah) will spend for you". [ Abu Hurayrah (RA) reported this Hadith and was recorded by Bukhari]

Explaining the above Hadith, the welfare of the weak, the oppressed, the needy and the poor is paramount in Islam. The religion expects its adherents to cater for this category of people and ameliorate their appalling condition. Such people should be trained to earn their living rather than imbibe the culture of living on begging. It is high time we sit down and address the issue of beggars in our midst. One of the reasons I'm throwing my support to Mallam Nasir El-Rufai on the ban of beggars in Kaduna State. Meanwhile the factors responsible for their abject poverty must be identified and addressed while a realistic solution is actualised.

This Hadith also teaches us to reciprocate a good gesture, after all, one good turn deserves another. In another hadith the Prophet is reported as saying that if we show concern for our fellow human beings, Allah in the heaven will continue to take a good care of us. But that does not give room for people to begging as begging is totally prohibited in Islam.

Equally, still quoting from the sayings of the Prophet (SAW) on frowning at begging and beggars in all spheres. He (SAW) advised for a beggar to fetch fire-wood to earn a living than begging. He said thus:

"If one of you takes a rope (goes to a bush) and comes back with a bunch of fire-wood on his back, sells it and and have his problem thus solved by Allah is better for him rather than begging people for alms whether or nor they give him". [Bukhari & Muslim]

Dignity of labour is the focus of this Hadith. The Prophet (SAW) teaches everybody to work hard in order to earn a living instead of becoming a professional beggar.

This Hadith clearly depicts the position of Islam on begging. The religion does not encourage it, rather, it discourages it. What is true of Islam is that it is sympathetic to the cause of the poor, the needy and the oppressed in every society while it encourages Muslims to show interest in the welfare of such people.

Our society today is replete with beggars roaming the streets and begging for alms in the name of Allah. It is the responsibility of Muslim leaders in particular to educate their followers on the teaching of Islam concerning begging. Many of the beggars could be rehabilitated and earn decent living.

We Muslims should be more alive to our responsibilities as parents. We should take a proper care of our handicapped children instead of pushing them into the streets to go and beg for alms. We should also consider our financial resources before we marry additional wives. Likewise we should give a serious thought to the issue of the poor people who are living on others and yet give birth to many children whom they can not take care of. It is un-Islamic to give birth to a child whom we can not feed and clothe. As Allah said in Qur'an 2:233:

"The mothers shall give suck to their offspring for two whole years, for him who desires to complete the term. But he (the father) shall bear the cost of their food and clothing on equitable terms. No soul shall have a burden laid on it greater than it can bear."

In other place in the Qur'an Chapter 9:60 that: "Sadaqat (alms giving) are for the poor and the needy..." Here most people who support the act begging used to quote as an evidence to support beggars. Not knowing that they are misinterpreting the message of the Qur'an as the Tafsir (Qur'an explanation) of the verse never posit or considers beggars rather those whom we know in our society that are poor or indigent but will rather be honourable with their conditions than begging in the street for alms.

Finally, having lauded the giant step taken by Governor El-Rufai to ban beggars off the street of Kaduna, there is need to rehabilitate these destitutes and he should not do it alone. He should partner with religious leaders in the state to preach and nurture the spiritual beings of these beggars.

And more importantly the government of Kaduna State or any other states that is ready to toe the path of Governor Nasir El-Rufai should ensure they deliver the promises they make to these destitutes and do it with sincerity of purpose not for political gain or for the sake of sending beggars off the streets. Before taking such decision there ought to have been an already made palliative measures to alleviate the vulnerable beggars in our society.