Excerpt from the book: Ahkām wa Masā’il – In the Light of Qur’an and Sunnah by Shaykh Mubashir Ahmad Rabbani
Sometimes, entertainers and beggars such as naqāl (mimics, jesters, etc.) show up at weddings and ask for money. What is the Sharʿī ruling on giving them money?
If such individuals attend weddings or other gatherings and engage in acts that violate Islamic principles, they should not be given any money.
This is because begging and asking from people is disliked in Islam.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"It is better for any one of you to take a rope, go to the mountains, gather firewood, carry it on his back, and sell it (for livelihood), than to beg from others—whether they give him something or refuse."
Sunan Ibn Mājah, Kitāb al-Zakāh, Bāb Karāhiyyat al-Mas’alah (1836); Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī (1471)
Imām Nawawī رحمه الله writes regarding those capable of earning but still choose to beg:
"Our scholars have differed. The most correct opinion is that asking in such a case is ḥarām, based on the apparent meaning of the aḥādīth.
A second opinion allows it with three strict conditions:
① He must not humiliate himself.
② He must not weep or beg with emotional display.
③ He must not annoy or pressure the person he is asking from.
If any of these conditions are not met, then asking is unanimously ḥarām."
Sharḥ Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (7/113)
If these individuals do not violate Sharʿī boundaries, and one gives something out of kindness, hoping it leads them away from sinful activities, then it is permissible.
The Prophet ﷺ said, as narrated by Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه:
"A man once said: I will give charity today. He gave it at night and unknowingly placed it in the hand of a thief.
The next day, people said: A thief was given charity last night!
The man said: O Allah! All praise is due to You. I will give charity again.
He gave again and this time it reached a prostitute.
People said: A prostitute was given charity!
He said again: O Allah! All praise is due to You. I will still give charity.
He gave for the third time, and it reached a wealthy man.
People said: A wealthy man received charity!
That night, he was told in a dream: Your charity to the thief may stop him from stealing. Your charity to the prostitute may keep her away from immorality. And your charity to the rich man may cause him to reflect and begin giving in charity himself."
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Zakāh, Bāb: Idhā Taṣaddaqa ʿalā Ghanī wa Huwa Lā Yaʿlam (1421)
This authentic narration from Banī Isrā’īl shows that charity given with sincere intention, even if mistakenly received by the wrong person, can still have barakah and result in the recipient changing for the better.
If one gives money to such entertainers or mockers to:
A historical precedent is found in the time of the Prophet ﷺ:
After the Battle of Ḥunayn, when distributing spoils of war, the Prophet ﷺ gave some wealth to ʿAbbās ibn Mirdās al-Sulamī for reconciliation (ta’līf al-qulūb).
But Mirdās felt he had received less than others and composed poetry in complaint.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Take him away and shut his mouth with wealth."
The Companions gave him more until he was content and stopped speaking.
This incident is mentioned in historical sources such as:
In our society, entertainers such as mirāsīs, dōms, bhand, singers, or jesters attend weddings and:
In such cases, if someone gives money just to silence them, it is permissible for the giver, but it remains unlawful for the recipient due to the un-Islamic nature of their conduct.
❖ Question:
Sometimes, entertainers and beggars such as naqāl (mimics, jesters, etc.) show up at weddings and ask for money. What is the Sharʿī ruling on giving them money?
❖ Answer:
If such individuals attend weddings or other gatherings and engage in acts that violate Islamic principles, they should not be given any money.
This is because begging and asking from people is disliked in Islam.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"It is better for any one of you to take a rope, go to the mountains, gather firewood, carry it on his back, and sell it (for livelihood), than to beg from others—whether they give him something or refuse."
Sunan Ibn Mājah, Kitāb al-Zakāh, Bāb Karāhiyyat al-Mas’alah (1836); Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī (1471)✿ Ruling on Capable Individuals Who Beg:
Imām Nawawī رحمه الله writes regarding those capable of earning but still choose to beg:
"Our scholars have differed. The most correct opinion is that asking in such a case is ḥarām, based on the apparent meaning of the aḥādīth.
A second opinion allows it with three strict conditions:
① He must not humiliate himself.
② He must not weep or beg with emotional display.
③ He must not annoy or pressure the person he is asking from.
If any of these conditions are not met, then asking is unanimously ḥarām."
Sharḥ Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (7/113)✿ Can Such Individuals Be Given Anything?
If these individuals do not violate Sharʿī boundaries, and one gives something out of kindness, hoping it leads them away from sinful activities, then it is permissible.
The Prophet ﷺ said, as narrated by Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه:
"A man once said: I will give charity today. He gave it at night and unknowingly placed it in the hand of a thief.
The next day, people said: A thief was given charity last night!
The man said: O Allah! All praise is due to You. I will give charity again.
He gave again and this time it reached a prostitute.
People said: A prostitute was given charity!
He said again: O Allah! All praise is due to You. I will still give charity.
He gave for the third time, and it reached a wealthy man.
People said: A wealthy man received charity!
That night, he was told in a dream: Your charity to the thief may stop him from stealing. Your charity to the prostitute may keep her away from immorality. And your charity to the rich man may cause him to reflect and begin giving in charity himself."
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Zakāh, Bāb: Idhā Taṣaddaqa ʿalā Ghanī wa Huwa Lā Yaʿlam (1421)This authentic narration from Banī Isrā’īl shows that charity given with sincere intention, even if mistakenly received by the wrong person, can still have barakah and result in the recipient changing for the better.
✿ Giving to Avoid Harm or Mockery:
If one gives money to such entertainers or mockers to:
- Prevent public embarrassment, or
- Protect one’s honor,
then this is permissible for the giver, but sinful for the receiver.
A historical precedent is found in the time of the Prophet ﷺ:
After the Battle of Ḥunayn, when distributing spoils of war, the Prophet ﷺ gave some wealth to ʿAbbās ibn Mirdās al-Sulamī for reconciliation (ta’līf al-qulūb).
But Mirdās felt he had received less than others and composed poetry in complaint.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Take him away and shut his mouth with wealth."
The Companions gave him more until he was content and stopped speaking.
This incident is mentioned in historical sources such as:
- Asad al-Ghābah
- Al-Iṣābah
- Sīrah Ibn Isḥāq
- Dalā’il al-Nubuwwah by al-Bayhaqī
- Tārīkh al-Ṭabarī
- Al-Kāmil by Ibn al-Athīr
- Tārīkh Jurjān by Ḥamzah ibn Yūsuf al-Samʿānī (p. 122)
✿ Social Observations:
In our society, entertainers such as mirāsīs, dōms, bhand, singers, or jesters attend weddings and:
- Engage in mockery,
- Harass guests persistently,
- Cause scenes if not given money.
In such cases, if someone gives money just to silence them, it is permissible for the giver, but it remains unlawful for the recipient due to the un-Islamic nature of their conduct.
Final Ruling:
Begging without necessity is impermissible, especially for those who can earn.- Mockery and entertainment that contradict Sharīʿah is condemned.
- Giving money out of kindness, with the hope that the recipient may abandon sinful behavior, is permissible.
- Giving to prevent social harm or embarrassment is allowed for the giver.
- But for the recipient engaged in unlawful or indecent acts, taking such money remains sinful.
