Question: Is it nobler not to receive unemployment benefits?
Answer:
Wa alaykum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,
Dear questioner,
Thank you for your important question.
The default stance of the believer is that he relies on his own income and does not receive financial aid from anyone else. This is especially the case for Muslims living in non-Muslim countries.
The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, ‘I swear that it is far better for one of you to go out and collect firewood for sale than to go and beg from someone else who may or may not give to him’ (Bukhari and Muslim).
However, we are not always in an ideal financial circumstance, and receiving unemployment when there is genuinely a need is perfectly fine. Furthermore, if the total unemployment benefit is less than the taxes that a person has paid, then the person has not really taken charity, and this would no longer be an issue.
I pray this helps.
[Ustadh] Farid
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Ustadh Farid Dingle has completed extensive years of study in the sciences of the Arabic language and the various Islamic Sciences. During his studies, he also earned a CIFE Certificate in Islamic Finance. Over the years he has developed a masterful ability to craft lessons that help non-Arabic speakers gain a deep understanding of the language. He currently teaches courses in the Arabic Language