10/58. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 862 — Zakat Trust and Accountability
Hastening to pray without rushing unduly
Hadith About Zakat Trust and Accountability
Sunan an-Nasai : 862
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 862
أَخْبَرَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ سَوَّادِ بْنِ الأَسْوَدِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا ابْنُ جُرَيْجٍ، عَنْ مَنْبُوذٍ، عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ أَبِي رَافِعٍ، قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا صَلَّى الْعَصْرَ ذَهَبَ إِلَى بَنِي عَبْدِ الأَشْهَلِ فَيَتَحَدَّثُ عِنْدَهُمْ حَتَّى يَنْحَدِرَ لِلْمَغْرِبِ . قَالَ أَبُو رَافِعٍ فَبَيْنَمَا النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُسْرِعُ إِلَى الْمَغْرِبِ مَرَرْنَا بِالْبَقِيعِ فَقَالَ " أُفٍّ لَكَ أُفٍّ لَكَ " . قَالَ فَكَبُرَ ذَلِكَ فِي ذَرْعِي فَاسْتَأْخَرْتُ وَظَنَنْتُ أَنَّهُ يُرِيدُنِي فَقَالَ " مَا لَكَ امْشِ " . فَقُلْتُ أَحْدَثْتُ حَدَثًا . قَالَ " مَا ذَاكَ " . قُلْتُ أَفَّفْتَ بِي . قَالَ " لاَ وَلَكِنْ هَذَا فُلاَنٌ بَعَثْتُهُ سَاعِيًا عَلَى بَنِي فُلاَنٍ فَغَلَّ نَمِرَةً فَدُرِّعَ الآنَ مِثْلَهَا مِنْ نَارٍ " .
Abu Rafi' Narrated from:
After the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had prayed Asr, he would go to Banu 'Abdul-Ashhal to speak to them, until the time for Maghrib came. Abu Rafi said: "While the Prophet (ﷺ) was hastening to pray Maghrib, we passed by and he said: 'Fie on you, fie on you!' That upset me so I slowed down because I thought hat he meant me.He said: 'What is the matter with you? Keep up!' I said: 'Is there something wrong?' He said: 'Why are you asking that? I said: 'Because you said: "Fie on you" to me.' He said: 'No, that was so-and-so whom I had sent to collect Zakat from the tribe of so-and-so, and he stole a Namirah and now he is clothed with something similar made of Fire."'
[1] The graveyard of Al-Madînah.[2] "Every garment including stripes which the Arabs wrap around the waist is called a Namirah , its plural is Namâr . It is as if it refers to the colors of a Namir (leopard or tiger); because it contains white and black." ( An-Nihâyah )Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 862In-book reference : Book 10, Hadith 86English translation : Vol. 1, Book 10, Hadith 863
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 862
This hadith about zakat trust shows two connected points from one report. Abu Rafi describes that after Asr, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم would visit Banu Abdul-Ashhal and speak with them until Maghrib came. While going quickly for Maghrib, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, “Fie on you,” and Abu Rafi became worried that he was being addressed. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم clarified that he was not blaming Abu Rafi. Rather, he was referring to a man sent to collect zakat who had stolen a Namirah. The hadith about stealing zakat property gives a strong warning: a person entrusted with public or zakat wealth must not take from it. The wording points to serious accountability for betrayal of trust.
What we learn from this hadith
- A person handling zakat must treat it as a serious trust.
- Misunderstandings should be clarified instead of left in fear.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم corrected Abu Rafi’s concern with clear words.
- Taking from entrusted property is shown as a grave matter in this report.
