Beware: The Devil's Deceptions Against the Poor in Islam

Poverty does not mean a person is free from the temptations of the devil. In classical Islamic literature, it is explained that the devil also has various deceptions to mislead the poor, ranging from encouraging the habit of begging without need, displaying poverty for the sake of praise, to cultivating a feeling of being more noble because one considers oneself more ascetic than the rich.

Jamaluddin Abul Faraj Abdurrahman bin Ali bin Muhammad bin Ali Al Qurasyi Al Baghdadi, known as Ibnul Jauzi, explains in his book Talbis Iblis that the poor are not immune to the devil’s deceptions. Among them are those who deliberately present themselves as poor, when in fact they are wealthy.

If a person continuously holds out his hand to others and begs, it means he is increasing the embers of hellfire. From Abu Hurairah, the Prophet Muhammad SAW said, ‘Whoever begs for people’s wealth in order to increase his own wealth, then indeed he is asking for embers of hellfire. Therefore, it is up to him whether he asks for a little or a lot.’ (Narrated by Imam Muslim). If that person does not receive anything from others, and then he displays his poverty so that he is considered an ascetic, then he has committed ostentation.