93/24. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 7174 — Public Trust
The gifts taken by the employees
Hadith About Public Trust and Gifts to Officials
Sahih Bukhari : 7174
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 7174
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ عُرْوَةَ، أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو حُمَيْدٍ السَّاعِدِيُّ، قَالَ اسْتَعْمَلَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم رَجُلاً مِنْ بَنِي أَسَدٍ يُقَالُ لَهُ ابْنُ الأُتَبِيَّةِ عَلَى صَدَقَةٍ فَلَمَّا قَدِمَ قَالَ هَذَا لَكُمْ وَهَذَا أُهْدِيَ لِي. فَقَامَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ ـ قَالَ سُفْيَانُ أَيْضًا فَصَعِدَ الْمِنْبَرَ ـ فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَأَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ " مَا بَالُ الْعَامِلِ نَبْعَثُهُ، فَيَأْتِي يَقُولُ هَذَا لَكَ وَهَذَا لِي. فَهَلاَّ جَلَسَ فِي بَيْتِ أَبِيهِ وَأُمِّهِ فَيَنْظُرُ أَيُهْدَى لَهُ أَمْ لاَ، وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لاَ يَأْتِي بِشَىْءٍ إِلاَّ جَاءَ بِهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ يَحْمِلُهُ عَلَى رَقَبَتِهِ، إِنْ كَانَ بَعِيرًا لَهُ رُغَاءٌ، أَوْ بَقَرَةً لَهَا خُوَارٌ، أَوْ شَاةً تَيْعَرُ ". ثُمَّ رَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ حَتَّى رَأَيْنَا عُفْرَتَىْ إِبْطَيْهِ " أَلاَ هَلْ بَلَّغْتُ " ثَلاَثًا. قَالَ سُفْيَانُ قَصَّهُ عَلَيْنَا الزُّهْرِيُّ. وَزَادَ هِشَامٌ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَبِي حُمَيْدٍ قَالَ سَمِعَ أُذُنَاىَ وَأَبْصَرَتْهُ عَيْنِي، وَسَلُوا زَيْدَ بْنَ ثَابِتٍ فَإِنَّهُ سَمِعَهُ مَعِي. وَلَمْ يَقُلِ الزُّهْرِيُّ سَمِعَ أُذُنِي. {خُوَارٌ} صَوْتٌ، وَالْجُؤَارُ مِنْ تَجْأَرُونَ كَصَوْتِ الْبَقَرَةِ.
Abu Humaid As-Sa'idi Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) appointed a man from the tribe of Bani Asad, called Ibn Al-Utabiyya to collect the Zakat. When he returned (with the money) he said (to the Prophet), "This is for you and this has been given to me as a gift."The Prophet (ﷺ) stood up on the pulpit (Sufyan said he ascended the pulpit), and after glorifying and praising Allah, he said, "What is wrong with the employee whom we send (to collect Zakat from the public) that he returns to say, 'This is for you and that is for me?' Why didn't he stay at his father's and mother's house to see whether he will be given gifts or not? By Him in Whose Hand my life is, whoever takes anything illegally will bring it on the Day of Resurrection by carrying it over his neck: if it is a camel, it will be grunting: if it is a cow, it will be mooing: and if it is a sheep it will be bleating!"The Prophet (ﷺ) then raised both his hands till we saw the whiteness of his armpits (and he said), "No doubt! Haven't I conveyed Allah's Message?" And he repeated it three times.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 7174In-book reference : Book 93, Hadith 38USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 9, Book 89, Hadith 286
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 7174
This hadith is a clear warning about public trust. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم appointed a man to collect Zakat. When the man returned, he said that one part was for the Muslims and another part had been given to him as a gift. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم spoke from the pulpit and asked why an employee sent on public duty would say, “This is for you and that is for me.” He then asked why the man did not stay in his parents’ house to see whether he would receive such gifts. The hadith about gifts to officials shows that gifts linked to public work can become unlawful taking. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم also warned that a person who takes something illegally will come with it on the Day of Resurrection.
What we learn from this hadith
- A public worker must separate public property from personal gain.
- A gift received because of official duty is not treated like a normal private gift.
- Taking something illegally is a serious matter in the sight of Allah.
- Leaders should openly correct misuse of public trust when needed.
