Unpleasantness of Begging
Al-Kāfi|Volume 4|Book 1|Chapter 17
8ـ وَرُوِيَ عَنْ لُقْمَانَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ لابْنِهِ يَا بُنَيَّ ذُقْتُ الصَّبْرَ وَأَكَلْتُ لِحَاءَ الشَّجَرِ فَلَمْ أَجِدْ شَيْئاً هُوَ أَمَرُّ مِنَ الْفَقْرِ فَإِنْ بُلِيتَ بِهِ يَوْماً وَلا تُظْهِرِ النَّاسَ عَلَيْهِ فَيَسْتَهِينُوكَ وَلا يَنْفَعُوكَ بِشَيْءٍ ارْجِعْ إِلَى الَّذِي ابْتَلاكَ بِهِ فَهُوَ أَقْدَرُ عَلَى فَرَجِكَ وَسَلْهُ مَنْ ذَا الَّذِي سَأَلَهُ فَلَمْ يُعْطِهِ أَوْ وَثِقَ بِهِ فَلَمْ يُنْجِهِ.
8. “It is narrated that Luqman said to his son, ‘Son, I have tested patience and have consumed tree barks for food. I have not found anything as bitter as poverty. If you ever face poverty, do not tell people about it; you will seem insignificant in their sight and they will be of no benefit to you. You must turn to the One who has placed it upon you as a trial. He has all the power to grant you relief, but you must ask Him for help. No one asking Him for help is ever turned away empty-handed, and no one who has placed his trust in Him is ever abandoned.’”
- Mirʾāt al-ʿUqūl fī Sharḥ Akhbār Āl al-Rasūl (16/149)
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Kāfī