Begging is the act of asking people for money in a manner that humiliates the beggar and strips them of all forms of human dignity. There are several reasons that may lead a person to beg, including:<br /><br />Obtaining money to provide food for oneself and one’s children. Although this method is unpleasant, it still exists and is resorted to by many beggars in order to survive. This is often due to the inability to work because of illness or disability,<br /><br />and the lack of any income to meet the basic needs of their family members.<br />Some individuals take up begging as a profession, continuing with it to collect money even if they are capable of working in other jobs that preserve their dignity and spare them the humiliation. Sometimes, such individuals even possess enough money to live on without needing help from anyone.<br /><br />Another reason for begging is inheriting the habit from a father or a family member. The person imitates their relatives and becomes skilled at begging, having grown up with it and never being told that it is shameful or unacceptable in society. They were raised in an environment that pushed them toward this behavior.<br /><br />It is important to note here that a beggar might also resort to theft or robbery, as these behaviors are similar in how they aim to obtain money.<br /><br />In all cases, begging is considered a problem that stems either from a lack of awareness among certain groups in society or from unemployment and the unavailability of work for the beggar.<br /><br />Dr. Abbas Shatool Hammoud<br />Al-Mustaqbal University, the top university in Iraq