HADITH OF THE DAY:
SELF-HELP ENCOURAGED

A man came to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and begged for something from him. The Prophet asked the man:

"Have you nothing in your house?"

The man replied: "Yes, a piece of cloth, a part of which we wear and a part of which we spread (on the ground), and a wooden bowl from which we drink water."

The Prophet asked the man to bring him these items. He then auctioned them off to the highest bidder and gave the money to the man who was begging, saying:

"Buy food...and give it to your family, and buy an axe and bring it to me."

When the man brought the ax, the Prophet fixed a handle on it with his own hands and said:

"Go, gather firewood and sell it, and do not let me see you for a fortnight."

The man went away and gathered firewood and sold it. When he had earned enough money, he bought food and clothing.

The Prophet then said to him: "This is better for you than having begging (be held against you) on the Day of Judgment."

Sunan of Abu-Dawood, Hadith 664