Page:Selections from Muhammadan Traditions - tr. William Goldsack (1923).djvu/103

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THE BOOK OF ALMS
83

milked some of them, so I placed it in my leathern bag, and that is the milk which thou hast drunk." Then ʿOmar put his hand into his mouth, and caused himself to vomit.'—Málik.

Concerning Those for Whom Begging is not Lawful,
and for Whom it is

It is related from Abú Hurairah that, 'The Apostle of God said, "He who begs from men their wealth in order to increase his own, only asks live coals, whether he ask little or much."'—Muslim.

It is related from Sahal binuʾl-Ḥanzaliyyah that, 'The Apostle of God said, "He who begs, when he has what makes him independent of it, is only asking for an increase of the fire." Al Nufail, who was one of the reporters of traditions, said, in another tradition, "What are the riches, having which it is not right to beg?" He replied, "That amount which suffices for the morning and evening meal." And he said in another place, "That he have enough to satisfy him for a day or a night and a day."'—Abú Dáud.

It is related from Anas that, 'A man of the helpers came to the Prophet to beg from him. He said, "Is there nothing in thy house?" The man said, "Yes, there is a blanket, with a part of it we cover ourselves, and a part of it we spread on the floor. And there is a large drinking-bowl from which we drink water." The Prophet said, "Bring them to me." Then he brought them. Then the Apostle of God took them in his hand and said, "Who will buy these two?" A man said, "I will take them for one dirham." He replied twice or thrice, "Who will give more than one dirham?" A man said, "I will take them for two dirhams." Then the Prophet gave them to him, and he took the two dirhams and gave them to the helper and said, "Buy with one of them food and give it to thy family, and with the other buy a hatchet and bring it to me." So he brought it to him. Then the Apostle of God fitted a handle to it with his own hands, and after that said, "Go and cut firewood and sell it, and let me not see thee for fifteen days." So the man went to cut firewood and sell it. Then he came back to him, and he had gained ten dirhams, and with a portion of it he had bought clothes, and with a portion of it he bought food. Then