Sunan an-Nasa’i: Book 23, Hadith 171
‘Abdullah bin As-Sa’di narrated that he came to ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, from Ash-Sham, and he said: “I heard that you have been doing some work for the Muslims, and you are given payment for that, but you do not accept it. “I said: “Yes (that is so); I have horses and slaves and am well-off, and I wanted my work to be an act of charity toward the Muslims.” ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “I wanted the same thing as you. The Prophet used to give me money, and I would say: ‘Give it to someone who is more in need of it than I am. Once he gave me money and I said: ‘Give it to someone who us more in need of it that I am, and he said: ‘Whatever Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, gives you of this wealth without you asking for it or hoping or it, take it and keep it, or give it in charity, and whatever. He does not give you then do not hope for it or wish for it.”‘
أَخْبَرَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ أَبُو عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ الْمَخْزُومِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنِ السَّائِبِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ، عَنْ حُوَيْطِبِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْعُزَّى، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ السَّعْدِيِّ، أَنَّهُ قَدِمَ عَلَى عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ رضى الله عنه مِنَ الشَّامِ فَقَالَ أَلَمْ أُخْبَرْ أَنَّكَ تَعْمَلُ عَلَى عَمَلٍ مِنْ أَعْمَالِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ فَتُعْطَى عَلَيْهِ عُمَالَةً فَلاَ تَقْبَلُهَا قَالَ أَجَلْ إِنَّ لِي أَفْرَاسًا وَأَعْبُدًا وَأَنَا بِخَيْرٍ وَأُرِيدُ أَنْ يَكُونَ عَمَلِي صَدَقَةً عَلَى الْمُسْلِمِينَ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ رضى الله عنه إِنِّي أَرَدْتُ الَّذِي أَرَدْتَ وَكَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُعْطِينِي الْمَالَ فَأَقُولُ أَعْطِهِ مَنْ هُوَ أَفْقَرُ إِلَيْهِ مِنِّي وَإِنَّهُ أَعْطَانِي مَرَّةً مَالاً فَقُلْتُ لَهُ أَعْطِهِ مَنْ هُوَ أَحْوَجُ إِلَيْهِ مِنِّي . فَقَالَ
“ مَا آتَاكَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ مِنْ هَذَا الْمَالِ مِنْ غَيْرِ مَسْأَلَةٍ وَلاَ إِشْرَافٍ فَخُذْهُ فَتَمَوَّلْهُ أَوْ تَصَدَّقْ بِهِ وَمَا لاَ فَلاَ تُتْبِعْهُ نَفْسَكَ ” .
Sunan an-Nasa’i: Book 23, Hadith 171
The above hadith is from the Sunan an-Nasa’i collection of hadiths. Imam Ahmad ibn Shu’ayb al-Nasa’i’s magnum opus, the Sunan an-Nasa’i, is an indispensable part of the Kutub al-Sittah, the six major books of hadith revered in Sunni Islam. Completed in the 9th century, this collection features a comprehensive assembly of over 5,700 narrations pertaining to the teachings and example of the Prophet Muhammad. The compiler’s methodology was notably rigorous and scrupulous, setting a high benchmark for authenticity. He meticulously sifted through countless reports, including only the most sound and excluding any that were weak or fabricated. Therefore, his Sunan is universally esteemed as a cornerstone of reliable Islamic tradition.
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For more Hadith in Book 23: The Book of Zakah