"Those who ask for it"
Today a lot of beggars have made it a business to beg for money because they can earn a lot more for doing a lot less. The worst part is they're capable of working.
Regarding charity:
Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "No doubt, it is better for a person to take a rope and proceed in the morning to the mountains and cut the wood and then sell it, and eat from this income and give alms from it than to ask others for something." Sahih al-Bukhari 1480
My assumption is that charity is meant to help those people who really need it, so this was to deter people from asking for it that could do something, anything.
Of course, I understand that we don't know what is in a person's heart. but that doesn't mean we have to be deaf, dumb, and blind when it comes to figuring out their situation. lots of people say "If they use it for wrong that's on them". I say if you have doubt that the person doesn't truly need it what's the harm in making sure?
nowadays people took it that extra step. "Don't give me the money, just buy me groceries". you buy them rice and they go return it. "I need medicine", they return that too.
I've started looking for people who seem ashamed to be asking for it, but the "bad" people started acting ashamed. I recently got hit by one of the local con-men lol. He told me this huge sob story about his life and how he lost his job and his wife and daughters (no sons) etc etc. He had a prescription page with a bunch of medicines listed on it and a letter from a hospital. I felt bad and gave into his demands. I told him "let's pray isha and meet up after". During salat I felt uneasy. In the dua' I asked Allah to guide me and protect me. I go outside and he's waiting there. I ask him "why didn't you pray?" so he gave some excuse. Anywho, while I'm talking to him a bunch of people pass by. as I leave to go home and get him some things I run into a person who said he was waiting for me after seeing me with the other guy. He told me that man was a kind of famous con artist and to just give him a small amount of money and send him on his way.
The worst part is because of those types of beggars the people who really need the help never get it.
I remember one guy who was begging for money, I said to him "I don't have any money to give you..."
he cut me off to say "You can bring it tomorrow, I'll be here"
so I continue "I meant I don't have money to give you but I can give you something else. Before going to sleep if you recite Subhanallah 33 times...."
he cut me off with a "Allah Malik" and just turned away.
For anyone who read this far and is interested, when Fatima told Ali to ask the Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam for a servant, he was told instead to recite "Subhanallah" 33 times, "Alhamdulillah" 33 times, and "Allahu Akbar" 34 times before going to sleep so his troubles would be eased (something along those lines).
Anywho, this made me hate the people who beg for money standing at street corners and just roaming around on the streets. Instead, I started realising and noticing the people who really need the help and are more deserving. They fit the description Allah gave:
[Charity is] for the poor who have been restricted for the cause of Allah , unable to move about in the land. An ignorant [person] would think them self-sufficient because of their restraint, but you will know them by their [characteristic] sign. They do not ask people persistently [or at all]. And whatever you spend of good - indeed, Allah is Knowing of it. (2:273)
In the above verse, my understanding of "move about in the land" means they can't earn from any other means.
If I'm wrong and someone corrects me I submit to Allah and will follow the truth. For now, I have a hatred for the people who beg persistently and don't have any actual need to do so.