Our beautiful city has a sad side to it. There is a growing number of people begging for a few coins to survive. Some city onlookers verbally abuse them and some good people do give them their loose change. Last year City of Perth rangers tried to clamp down on begging but it turned out into a public relations disaster that required the former City of Perth CEO Frank Edwards to intervene and waive the ‘oppressive’ $100 fine imposed on Mr Wilkinson. This was a honourable thing to do and its time to help the poor by helping them with food and extra tax dollars. No point people start making value judgements on the destitute as anyone can be on the streets. Remember Eddy Murphy’s 1980 classic film, ‘Trading Places?
Beggar Corey Wilkinson has fine withdrawn | Perth news now | oneperth.com.au.
In the Islamic tradition it is disliked for a able body and a healthy person to beg in the streets, it is preferred that he works for a living. In a Hadith it was reported by Zubair bin ‘Awwam (RA): Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “It is far better for you to take your rope, go to the mountain, (cut some firewood) carry it on your back, and sell it and thereby save your face than begging from people whether they give you or refuse.”
[Al-Bukhari]
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