8/11. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 1801 — Fair Zakat Collection
What kind of camels should be taken
Fair Zakat Collection in Islam
Sunan Ibn Majah : 1801
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 1801
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، حَدَّثَنَا شَرِيكٌ، عَنْ عُثْمَانَ الثَّقَفِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي لَيْلَى الْكِنْدِيِّ، عَنْ سُوَيْدِ بْنِ غَفَلَةَ، قَالَ جَاءَنَا مُصَدِّقُ النَّبِيِّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ فَأَخَذْتُ بِيَدِهِ وَقَرَأْتُ فِي عَهْدِهِ لاَ يُجْمَعُ بَيْنَ مُتَفَرِّقٍ وَلاَ يُفَرَّقُ بَيْنَ مُجْتَمِعٍ خَشْيَةَ الصَّدَقَةِ . فَأَتَاهُ رَجُلٌ بِنَاقَةٍ عَظِيمَةٍ مُلَمْلَمَةٍ فَأَبَى أَنْ يَأْخُذَهَا فَأَتَاهُ بِأُخْرَى دُونَهَا فَأَخَذَهَا وَقَالَ أَىُّ أَرْضٍ تُقِلُّنِي وَأَىُّ سَمَاءٍ تُظِلُّنِي إِذَا أَتَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ وَقَدْ أَخَذْتُ خِيَارَ إِبِلِ رَجُلٍ مُسْلِمٍ .
Suwaid bin Ghafalah Narrated from:
The Zakah collector of the Prophet came to us, and I took him by the hand and read in his order: 'Do not gather separate herds and do not separate herd for fear of Sadaqah'. A man brought him a huge, fat she-camel, but he refused to accept it. So he brought him another of lower quality and he accepted it. He said: 'What land would shelter me, if I came to the Messenger of Allah having taken the nest of a Muslim man's camels?' ”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 1801In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 19English translation : Vol. 3, Book 8, Hadith 1801
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 1801
This Hadith teaches fairness in Zakat collection. The Zakat collector carried an order from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم that separate herds should not be gathered, and gathered herds should not be separated, just to reduce or change the Sadaqah due. The narration also shows that the collector refused to take a huge, fat she-camel because it was among the best of the man’s camels. Instead, he accepted one of lower quality. The main message is clear: Zakat should be taken with justice, not with pressure, greed, or tricks. This Hadith is often searched as a hadith about Zakat collector, fair Sadaqah, and not taking the best livestock in Zakat.
What we learn from this hadith
- Zakat should be collected with fairness and care.
- People should not manipulate livestock groups to avoid Sadaqah.
- A collector should not take the best property unfairly.
- Fear of answering before Allah should guide public duty.
