Giving charity and the like to professional beggars

Question

Many beggars, while being owners of the nisab, regard alms and sadaqat as their right; for this reason they do not offer the sacrifice at ‘Id al-Adha, thinking: plenty of meat will come to us through begging anyway. When people give them sadaqat, alms and the meat of the ‘Id sacrifice, their habit becomes ingrained. If, out of consideration of the benefit (maslaha)

Answer

Such people are not entitled to sadaqat; for such people even asking (begging) is impermissible. If someone gives such people sadaqat al-fitr, zakat or other obligatory charities, his zakat will not be discharged. Giving the meat of the sacrifice to everyone, rich and poor, and feeding them with it is permissible according to the Shari‘a; being poor is not a condition for this.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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