Bukhari

Hadith Commentary:
The narrator of this hadith is Hazrat Zubair bin Al-Awwam (radi Allahu anhu), whose kunyah is Abu Abdullah Qurashi.
His mother is Hazrat Safiyyah, daughter of Abdul Muttalib, and she is the paternal aunt of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam).
He and his mother embraced Islam at the very beginning, when he was sixteen years old.
Upon this, his uncle tried to suffocate him with smoke to cause him pain so that he would abandon Islam, but he did not leave Islam.
He participated in all the battles alongside the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), and he is the one who was the very first to unsheath his sword in the path of Allah.
He remained steadfast with the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) in the Battle of Uhud.
He is also counted among the Ashara Mubashshara (the ten companions given glad tidings of Paradise).
He was martyred in Basra at the age of sixty-four.
This incident occurred in the year 36 AH.
He was first buried in Wadi Siba‘.
Then he was transferred to Basra.
Radi Allahu anhu wa ardah.

Hadith Commentary:
In this hadith, the condemnation of asking (begging) is mentioned. It is narrated from Abu Hurairah (radi Allahu anhu) that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said:
“Whoever asks (begs) in order to increase his wealth is only asking for embers (of fire) for himself; now it is up to him whether he takes a little or a lot of them.”
(Sahih Muslim, Az-Zakah, Hadith: 2399(1041))

The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) further said:
“Begging is a wound with which a person injures his own face, except for a person who asks out of necessity or asks from the ruler, then there is no harm for him.”
(Sunan Abi Dawud, Az-Zakah, Hadith: 1639)

Hadith Commentary:
Muslims have been encouraged towards trade in a highly faith-inspiring manner, even if it is on a very small scale.
In any case, it is better than begging, even if one has to cut wood from the mountain, carry it on one's head, and bring it back.
And through its sale, he can make a living.
This is far better than idleness.
In the narration, only wood is mentioned.
The honorable Imam has also included grass in the chapter; that is, digging up grass from the forest and selling it in the market.
This too is highly beloved to Allah, that a servant does not stretch his hand before any of the creation.
Further ahead in the hadith, grass is also mentioned.

Hadith Commentary: That is, to avoid asking (begging) and to earn a living through one's own hard work and labor—this must necessarily be the life of a true Muslim.

Hadith Commentary:
In this hadith, a sign of a true Muslim is described: he earns his livelihood through hard work and labor to provide for himself and his children, and does not extend his hand before others, because in that lies humiliation and disgrace. A Muslim never debases or humiliates himself before others.

In Musnad Ahmad, there is a hadith in which it was asked of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam): Which earning is the most pure and good? He replied: "A man’s work with his own hands, and every trade that is conducted with integrity." (Musnad Ahmad: 4/141)

From this, it is understood that the best earning is that which is acquired by one’s own hands and effort, and the earning from trade is also pure when it is conducted in accordance with the rulings of the Shariah and with honesty.

And Allah knows best.

Benefits and Issues:

➊ Begging is considered a detestable thing in the view of Islam.
If a person is not in a position to adopt a profession that is regarded as respectable in society, then he should not consider manual labor to be disgraceful.
From that which does not belong to anyone, every person may take according to his need.
To earn a livelihood honestly through a profession that is considered lowly in the eyes of people is also a cause of honor.
If a person is unable to earn a livelihood due to disability, it is the duty of the Islamic government or the Muslim public to make arrangements to fulfill his legitimate needs so that he is not compelled to beg.

Lexical Explanation 518:
بِحُزْمَۃِ الْحَطَبِ — In “huzmah,” the “ha” has a dammah (u-sound) and the “za” is sukun (silent). It means a bundle of firewood.
فَیَکُفَّ اللّٰہُ بِهَا وَجْهَهُ — That is, Allah, through this (action), preserves his honor and dignity, and protects him from the disgrace of extending his hand to beg.

Benefit 518:
According to this hadith, begging and asking for alms is a blameworthy act. Earning one’s livelihood and obtaining sustenance through hard work and effort is better. Even if a beggar or one who asks receives something, is the humiliation of asking for it any less? Begging strips a person of honor and dignity. One’s standing in society is diminished. In the eyes of people, such a person has no status or rank. The bad habit of freeloading makes such a person lazy and indolent. The progress of society is adversely affected. And such a person, at times, becomes accustomed to bad habits like theft and fraud.