9/6. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 1589 — Please Your Zakat Collectors
On Pleasing The Collector Of Zakat
Hadith About Pleasing Zakat Collectors Even When Wronged
Sunan Abi Dawud : 1589
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 1589
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو كَامِلٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَاحِدِ يَعْنِي ابْنَ زِيَادٍ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحِيمِ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، - وَهَذَا حَدِيثُ أَبِي كَامِلٍ - عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي إِسْمَاعِيلَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ هِلاَلٍ الْعَبْسِيُّ، عَنْ جَرِيرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ جَاءَ نَاسٌ - يَعْنِي مِنَ الأَعْرَابِ - إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالُوا إِنَّ نَاسًا مِنَ الْمُصَدِّقِينَ يَأْتُونَا فَيَظْلِمُونَا . قَالَ فَقَالَ " أَرْضُوا مُصَدِّقِيكُمْ " . قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَإِنْ ظَلَمُونَا قَالَ " أَرْضُوا مُصَدِّقِيكُمْ " . زَادَ عُثْمَانُ " وَإِنْ ظُلِمْتُمْ " . قَالَ أَبُو كَامِلٍ فِي حَدِيثِهِ قَالَ جَرِيرٌ مَا صَدَرَ عَنِّي مُصَدِّقٌ بَعْدَ مَا سَمِعْتُ هَذَا مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِلاَّ وَهُوَ عَنِّي رَاضٍ .
Jabir bin `Abdullah Narrated from:
Jabir bin ‘Abdallah told of some people, meaning nomadic Arabs, who came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and said Collectors of zakat come to us and act unjustly. He said please those who collect the sadaqah from you. They asked Even if they wrong us, Messenger of Allah? He replied Please those who collect sadaqah from you. The version of ‘Uthman adds “Even if you are wronged”. Abu Kamil said in this version “Jarir said No collector of zakat returned from me since I heard this from the Messenger of Allah(ﷺ), but he was pleased with me.”
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1589In-book reference : Book 9, Hadith 34English translation : Book 9, Hadith 1584
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 1589
In this Hadith, some nomadic Arabs came to the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم and complained that zakat collectors were acting unjustly toward them. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم told them to please those who collected sadaqah from them. They asked again, even if the collectors wronged them. He repeated the command to please the collectors. One version adds, “even if you are wronged.” The report ends with Jarir saying that after hearing this from the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم, no zakat collector left him except pleased with him. This Hadith about dealing with zakat collectors teaches restraint, calm behavior, and avoiding a hostile response during collection.
What we learn from this hadith
- The people complained about unjust behavior from some collectors.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم still told them to keep the collectors pleased.
- Jarir applied this teaching in his own dealings afterward.
