93/17. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 7164 — Take What Comes Unasked
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 Taking What Comes Without Seeking It
Sahih Bukhari : 7164
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 7164
وَعَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي سَالِمُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، أَنْ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عُمَرَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عُمَرَ، يَقُولُ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُعْطِينِي الْعَطَاءَ فَأَقُولُ أَعْطِهِ أَفْقَرَ إِلَيْهِ مِنِّي. حَتَّى أَعْطَانِي مَرَّةً مَالاً فَقُلْتُ أَعْطِهِ مَنْ هُوَ أَفْقَرُ إِلَيْهِ مِنِّي. فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " خُذْهُ فَتَمَوَّلْهُ وَتَصَدَّقْ بِهِ، فَمَا جَاءَكَ مِنْ هَذَا الْمَالِ وَأَنْتَ غَيْرُ مُشْرِفٍ وَلاَ سَائِلٍ فَخُذْهُ، وَمَا لاَ فَلاَ تُتْبِعْهُ نَفْسَكَ ".
`Abdullah bin `Umar Narrated from:
I have heard 'Umar saying, "The Prophet (ﷺ) used to give me some money (grant) and I would 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 one than me.' The Prophet (ﷺ) said (to me), 'Take it and keep it in your possession and then give it in charity. Take whatever comes to you of this money while you are not keen to have it and not asking for it; take it, but you should not seek to have what you are not given. ' "
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 7164In-book reference : Book 93, Hadith 28USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 9, Book 89, Hadith 277
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 7164
This hadith about taking what comes without asking repeats Umar’s experience with the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم). The Prophet used to give him money, and Umar would ask that it be given to someone more in need. When this happened again, the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) told him to take it, own it, and give it in charity. Then he explained the condition: if money comes while a person is not eager for it and has not asked for it, he may take it. But if it does not come, he should not let his heart follow after it. This hadith teaches clean-hearted acceptance and avoiding greedy seeking.
What we learn from this hadith
- Money that comes without asking may be accepted.
- A person may own it and then give it in charity.
- One should not be eager for wealth in the heart.
- The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) warned against chasing what was not given.
