Meeting your own needs without asking anything of others is safeguarding your dignity.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) did his own chores at home: he repaired his own shoes and patched and sewed his own clothes. He said, "Whoever guarantees me that he will not ask people for anything, I guarantee him Paradise." He also taught that taking a rope, gathering firewood and selling it — thereby guarding one's dignity — is better than begging from people. Being self-sufficient is both freedom and dignity.
What does the hadith say?
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْيَمَانِ، أَخْبَرَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي عَطَاءُ بْنُ يَزِيدَ، أَنَّ أَبَا سَعِيدٍ، أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ أُنَاسًا مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ سَأَلُوا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَلَمْ يَسْأَلْهُ أَحَدٌ مِنْهُمْ إِلاَّ أَعْطَاهُ حَتَّى نَفِدَ مَا عِنْدَهُ فَقَالَ لَهُمْ حِينَ نَفِدَ كُلُّ شَىْءٍ أَنْفَقَ بِيَدَيْهِ " مَا يَكُنْ عِنْدِي مِنْ خَيْرٍ لاَ أَدَّخِرْهُ عَنْكُمْ، وَإِنَّهُ مَنْ يَسْتَعِفَّ يُعِفُّهُ اللَّهُ، وَمَنْ يَتَصَبَّرْ يُصَبِّرْهُ اللَّهُ، وَمَنْ يَسْتَغْنِ يُغْنِهِ اللَّهُ، وَلَنْ تُعْطَوْا عَطَاءً خَيْرًا وَأَوْسَعَ مِنَ الصَّبْرِ ".
Narrated Abu Sa`id:Some people from the Ansar asked Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) (to give them something) and he gave to everyone of them, who asked him, until all that he had was finished. When everything was finished and he had spent all that was in his hand, he said to them, '"(Know) that if I have any wealth, I will not withhold it from you (to keep for somebody else); And (know) that he who refrains from begging others (or doing prohibited deeds), Allah will make him contented and not in need of others; and he who remains patient, Allah will bestow patience upon him, and he who is satisfied with what he has, Allah will make him self-sufficient. And there is no gift better and vast (you may be given) than patience
Text: Sahih al-Bukhari, hadith no. 6470. Grade: sahih (hadiths in al-Bukhari and Muslim are accepted as sahih).
What is the hadith source of this sunnah?
This sunnah rests on the following hadiths. The reference gives the collection, chapter and number where the hadith appears.
- Ahmad ibn Hanbal, al-Musnad, 6/256
- al-Bukhari, al-Adab al-Mufrad, 190
- Abu Dawud, Book of Zakat, 27 (hadith no. 1643)
- al-Bukhari, Book of Sharecropping, 13 (hadith no. 2373)
How this page was prepared: sources and verification method.
More sunnahs in Everyday Courtesy
As a table with references: Everyday Courtesy sunnahs.
- Alhamdulillah When Sneezing: Saying "Alhamdulillah" when you sneeze is a short remembrance the Prophet taught.
- A Smile Is Charity: Smiling at your brother's face is charity. The Prophet's own laughter was a smile.
- Respect for Elders, Love for the Young: Showing mercy to the young and honoring the rights of elders was the Prophet's counsel.
- Removing an Obstacle from the Road: Removing something harmful from the road is charity.
- Answering an Invitation: Going where you are invited is a sunnah that gladdens the one who invited you.
- Turning with the Whole Body: When turning to someone, turning your whole body and not just your head shows them your full attention.
- Asking Permission Before Entering: Giving the greeting and asking permission before entering a door is a fine lesson in the etiquette of the sunnah.
- Suppressing a Yawn: When a yawn comes during prayer, holding it back as much as one can was the Prophet's counsel.
- Bismillah in Daily Tasks: Remembering Allah's name while closing a door and in daily tasks is beginning one's work with Bismillah.
- Walking with Purpose: Walking with quick, decided steps and a slight forward lean was the Prophet's way of walking.
- Running and Sport: On a journey, the Prophet raced on foot with his wife Aisha.
- Not Judging by Appearance: Allah looks not at forms and wealth but at hearts and deeds. Judge no one by appearance.