English Translation

Qabisah ibn Mukhariq al-Hilali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I incurred a debt (to reconcile between people) and came to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) to ask for help. He said: "Stay until the zakat comes to us, and we will order it to be given to you." Then he said: "O Qabisah, asking for charity is not permissible except for three: a man who has taken on a debt (to reconcile between people), he is allowed to ask until he pays it off; a man struck by a calamity that destroyed his wealth, he may ask until he gets enough to sustain himself; and a man struck by poverty and three knowledgeable people from his community testify to it — he may ask until he gets enough to sustain himself. Beyond that, O Qabisah, asking is unlawful consumption."