Dr. Mareena Thaha Reffai, Dehiwela

I used to be very antagonist to beggars thinking they can easilyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  get a job and earn their money without begging. It all changed when I happened to watch a young mother (May be with a borrowed infant in hands?) walking up and down near the color ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ lights on the W.A. Silva mawathe. In the glaring hot sun, she walks from top to bottom of this lane, sweat pouring down her neck, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ asking each and every motorist; and many just wave her away, many totally ignore her and some give from a coin to a few rupees. Certainly she was ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-workingƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚! I have been watching many a beggar ever since and I realize they do toil to get the money. It is not as if they are seated comfortably in an AC room and money is dropped into their laps. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ True begging is not a respectable job, but certainly better than robbing and cheating. Someone might argue they are cheating since they can work and they are not. This argument will hold water if we ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ have ready made jobs for them and they are shunning them. Unless and until we can offer them a decent living we should not criticize them. And how much they earn is no bodyƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s business.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Certainly Islam frowns upon begging and encourage earning by the toil of oneƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s own hands. Having said that, Islam also prescribes charity to those who ask and ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to those who do not ask, but are in need. If the rich recognize the needs of the poor, at least the needs of the relatives and neighbors, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ we can eradicate the begging in our country. Until then we have to sit back and let them survive the only way possible for them, and recognize the fact that begging is definitely better than stealing.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sent by :

Dr. Mareena Thaha Reffai, Vanderwert Place, Dehiwela