Beggars have once again infested busy intersections in major cities of the Kingdom. According to a report, the Anti-Begging Committee in Taif rounded up a Yemeni expatriate and found SR50, 000 in his possession. It is said: “Give a beggar a dime and he’ll bless you. Give him a dollar and he’ll curse you for withholding the rest of your fortune. Poverty is a bag with a hole at the bottom.”

Actually an incident prompted me to write on this issue. The other day as I was driving to my office, I stopped at a traffic light. As usual, a band of beggars rushed to the cars asking for money in their usual ways.

Frankly it is irritating at times as despite one’s polite refusal they usually refuse to budge. At that very moment, I spotted a road cleaner busy doing his job oblivious to the happenings in his surroundings. I saw many motorists giving him a riyal or two to the hardworking individual. He did not ask for it. It was more of a token of appreciation for his work. I believe in a matter of a few seconds, that unsung hero must have received a good amount without even asking for a dime.

This clearly shows that God helps hardworking individuals from sources beyond their imaginations. Islam abhors begging. These professional beggars usurp the rights of the needy people who do not spread their hands in front of others.

S.H. Moulana

Riyadh