It is narrated from Hazrat Ata bin Yasar that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: It is not permissible to give charity to anyone except five types of people: for the one who buys it with his wealth, or the one who works for it (as a collector/distributor), or for a traveler, or the one who is in the way of Allah, or for a neighbor to whom zakat has been given, and he gives it as a gift.

It is narrated from Hazrat Hubshi bin Junadah al-Sululi that I heard the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) saying this when a Bedouin came to him asking a question. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Asking (for help) is not permissible except in extreme poverty, or in a debt that is overwhelming and severe.

Hazrat Abu Ishaq narrates that a beggar asked Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them), Hazrat Hasan, Hazrat Husain, and Hazrat Abdullah bin Ja'far a question. All of them said to him: If you are asking because you have a terrifying and severe debt, or extreme poverty, or you have to pay blood money and will be killed otherwise, then it is permissible for you to ask (and otherwise, it is not).

Hazrat Qabeesah bin Mukharraq Al-Hilali narrates that I became indebted, so I presented myself before the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) with the intention of asking (for help). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: O Qabeesah, wait until charity (wealth) comes to us, then we will order something for you from it. Then the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to me: Asking (for help) is not permissible except for three types of people. The first is the person who has become indebted; for him, asking is permissible until he pays off (the debt), and then he should refrain (from asking). The second is the person who has been struck by a calamity that has destroyed his wealth; for him, asking is permissible until his livelihood is somewhat strengthened, and then he should refrain (from asking). The third is the person who is afflicted by hunger to such an extent that three wise men from his tribe say that indeed so-and-so has been afflicted by hunger; for him, asking is permissible until his livelihood is strengthened, and then he should refrain (from asking). O Qabeesah, O Qabeesah, anyone who asks besides these (categories) is consuming what is unlawful.

Hazrat Dahhak was asked that if a rich person is on a journey and all his wealth is exhausted during the journey and he becomes needy, then what is the ruling for him to ask (for help)? He replied that he will be given charity during the journey because he is a traveler.

It is narrated from Hazrat Hakeem bin Hizam that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Whoever seeks self-sufficiency, Allah makes him self-sufficient; and whoever adopts chastity, Allah makes him chaste; and the upper hand (the giving hand) is better than the lower hand (the receiving hand).