93/17. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 7163 — Accepting Unasked Wealth
The salaries of rulers and those employed to administer the funds
وَكَانَ شُرَيْحٌ الْقَاضِي يَأْخُذُ عَلَى الْقَضَاءِ أَجْرًا. وَقَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ يَأْكُلُ الْوَصِيُّ بِقَدْرِ عُمَالَتِهِ، وَأَكَلَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ.
Hadith About Accepting Wealth Without Asking for It
Sahih Bukhari : 7163
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 7163
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْيَمَانِ، أَخْبَرَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، أَخْبَرَنِي السَّائِبُ بْنُ يَزِيدَ ابْنُ أُخْتِ، نَمِرٍ أَنَّ حُوَيْطِبَ بْنَ عَبْدِ الْعُزَّى، أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ السَّعْدِيِّ أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّهُ، قَدِمَ عَلَى عُمَرَ فِي خِلاَفَتِهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ عُمَرُ أَلَمْ أُحَدَّثْ أَنَّكَ تَلِي مِنْ أَعْمَالِ النَّاسِ أَعْمَالاً، فَإِذَا أُعْطِيتَ الْعُمَالَةَ كَرِهْتَهَا. فَقُلْتُ بَلَى. فَقَالَ عُمَرُ مَا تُرِيدُ إِلَى ذَلِكَ قُلْتُ إِنَّ لِي أَفْرَاسًا وَأَعْبُدًا، وَأَنَا بِخَيْرٍ، وَأَرِيدُ أَنْ تَكُونَ عُمَالَتِي صَدَقَةً عَلَى الْمُسْلِمِينَ. قَالَ عُمَرُ لاَ تَفْعَلْ فَإِنِّي كُنْتُ أَرَدْتُ الَّذِي أَرَدْتَ فَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُعْطِينِي الْعَطَاءَ فَأَقُولُ أَعْطِهِ أَفْقَرَ إِلَيْهِ مِنِّي. حَتَّى أَعْطَانِي مَرَّةً مَالاً فَقُلْتُ أَعْطِهِ أَفْقَرَ إِلَيْهِ مِنِّي. فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " خُذْهُ فَتَمَوَّلْهُ وَتَصَدَّقْ بِهِ، فَمَا جَاءَكَ مِنْ هَذَا الْمَالِ وَأَنْتَ غَيْرُ مُشْرِفٍ وَلاَ سَائِلٍ فَخُذْهُ، وَإِلاَّ فَلاَ تُتْبِعْهُ نَفْسَكَ "
'Abdullah bin As-Sa'di Narrated from:
When he went to 'Umar during his Caliphate. 'Umar said to him, "Haven't I been told that you do certain jobs for the people but when you are given payment you refuse to take it?" 'Abdullah added: I said, "Yes." 'Umar said, "Why do you do so?" I said, "I have horses and slaves and I am living in prosperity and I wish that my payment should be kept as a charitable gift for the Muslims."'Umar said, "Do not do so, for I intended to do the same as you do. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)s used to give me gifts and I used to say to him, 'Give it to a more needy one than me.' Once he gave me some money and I said, 'Give it to a more needy person than me,' whereupon the Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'Take it and keep it in your possession and then give it in charity. Take what ever comes to you of this money if you are not keen to have it and not asking for it; otherwise (i.e., if it does not come to you) do not seek to have it yourself.' "
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 7163In-book reference : Book 93, Hadith 27USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 9, Book 89, Hadith 277
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 7163
This hadith about accepting wealth without asking explains a balanced way to deal with money. Abdullah bin As-Sa'di refused payment for work and wanted it to remain charity for Muslims. Umar told him not to do that, because he had once wanted the same. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) had given Umar money, and Umar asked that it be given to someone poorer. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) told him to take it, keep it, and give it in charity. The rule in the hadith is clear: take what comes without craving it and without asking for it. If it does not come, do not chase after it.
What we learn from this hadith
- A person may accept money that comes without asking or craving.
- Accepted wealth can then be given in charity.
- One should not seek after wealth that has not been given.
- The hadith teaches balance between refusal, acceptance, and charity.
