البقرة
لِلْفُقَرَاءِ الَّذِينَ أُحْصِرُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ لَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ ضَرْبًا فِي الْأَرْضِ يَحْسَبُهُمُ الْجَاهِلُ أَغْنِيَاءَ مِنَ التَّعَفُّفِ تَعْرِفُهُم بِسِيمَاهُمْ لَا يَسْأَلُونَ النَّاسَ إِلْحَافًا ۗ وَمَا تُنفِقُوا مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ بِهِ عَلِيمٌ 273
Hazrat Imam Baghir (AS) has said: `This verse was sent down on account of the Companions of Verandah.'' (SOFFEH) They were some four hundred men emigrated to Medina, and having no residence, they dwelled in the prophets's Mosque. Later on, a big and shaded platform was constructed for them outside the mosque. This verse came down to bid Muslims to provide for those brave and Godly warriors who were always engaged in warfare and assignments. The verse may show us the best of cases for which alms can be given, and that is to those who have the three qualifications that follows: 1) They are confined in the way of Allah for being wholly engaged in warfare for the cause of Allah, so much so that they find no time to travel for bussiness, or do a work for satisfying their needs. 2) The ignorant supposes them to be rich because of their modest behaviour. They can only be recognized by their countenance. 3) They do not beg from door to door importunately. It is the duty of their religious brothers and the Public Purse to find them and to satisfy them their necessities. Asking people for something which you are not in ardent need of it is a heinous sin. We have many traditions that begging and living by asking alms is blamed. Our prophet has said: ``Receiving alms is unlawful for he who is free of want.'' OCCASION OF REVELATION (VERSE NO. 273)
THE BEST CASE OF CHARITY
BEGGING WITHOUT REAL NEED IS UNLAWFUL