The Book of Zakah
23/76. Chapter:
Meaning Of Al-Miskin (The Poor)
Sunan an-Nasai
أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " لَيْسَ الْمِسْكِينُ بِهَذَا الطَّوَّافِ الَّذِي يَطُوفُ عَلَى النَّاسِ تَرُدُّهُ اللُّقْمَةُ وَاللُّقْمَتَانِ وَالتَّمْرَةُ وَالتَّمْرَتَانِ " . قَالُوا فَمَا الْمِسْكِينُ قَالَ " الَّذِي لاَ يَجِدُ غِنًى يُغْنِيهِ وَلاَ يُفْطَنُ لَهُ فَيُتَصَدَّقَ عَلَيْهِ وَلاَ يَقُومُ فَيَسْأَلَ النَّاسَ " .
It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah said: "The poor man (Miskin) is not the one who goes around asking people and they send him away with a morsel or two, of a date or two. "They said: "Then what does poor (Mishkin) mean?" He said: "The one who does not possess independence of means and no one notices him to give charity to him, and he does not stand and ask of people."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 2572In-book reference : Book 23, Hadith 138English translation : Vol. 3, Book 23, Hadith 2573