It is narrated from Umm al-Mu'mineen Sayyida Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that goats of zakat came to Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him). Among them, he saw a goat that gave a lot of milk, so he asked: What is the matter with this goat? The people said: It is a goat of zakat. Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Its owner would never have given it willingly. Do not put people into trial, do not take their best wealth, and refrain from seizing their sustenance.

It is narrated from Muhammad bin Yahya bin Haban that two persons from the tribe of Ashja‘ informed me that Muhammad bin Maslamah Ansari used to come to collect zakat and would say to the owner of the wealth: Bring to me the zakat of your wealth. Then, whoever brought a goat, if it was suitable for zakat, he would accept it.

Imam Malik, may Allah have mercy on him, said: In our view, the Sunnah is this, and we found the scholars of our city upon it, that no hardship should be imposed upon Muslims in taking zakat, and whatever they give should be accepted.