What is the ruling on female beggars in public streets? Are they the poor and needy ones upon whom our religion urged us to spend? And what is the ruling on one who said to one of them, "May Allah give you," and was then cursed by her?

Begging is not permissible except for three: 1. One who has incurred a debt (financial burden) until he repays it. 2. One whose wealth has been destroyed by a calamity until he finds what sustains his life. 3. One who has been afflicted by severe destitution, and three people from his community bear witness to it, until he finds what sustains his life.

If one does not know the situation of the beggar, there is no harm in giving him out of caution. As for one who does not find anything to give, he should respond with a good word, based on the Almighty's saying: ﴿Kind speech and forgiveness are better than charity followed by injury.﴾ Slandering and cursing are forbidden by religious law.