Abdullah bin Sa'di came to Umar bin Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) during his caliphate. Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said to him: I have come to know that you are appointed over the affairs of the people, and then when you are given wages for it, you dislike it. Is this true? He said: Yes. Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: What is your intention in this? He said: I am the owner of horses, slaves, and wealth; I wish that this service of mine be considered charity for the Muslims. Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Do not do this. I also had the same intention as you. When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would give me something, I would say that you should give this to someone more in need than me. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would say: Take it, make it your property, and give charity from it. Whatever wealth comes to you without greed or asking, take it, and if it does not come to you in this way, then do not let your soul pursue it.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Darda’ (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked about the wealth of the rulers. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Whatever wealth Allah gives you from them without you asking or being greedy for it, then eat from it and make it your own property. Hasan Basri (may Allah have mercy on him) said: There is no harm in taking (the rulers’) wealth for which a person does not have to go (to them) nor does he remain desirous of it.

Sayyiduna Rafi’ bin Khadij (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: The collector of charity and alms, who does so for the pleasure of Allah and with justice, is like one who fights in the way of Allah, until he returns to his family.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Aiz bin Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Whoever receives sustenance without greed or asking, he should include it in his own sustenance to increase its abundance. But if he himself is free of need, then he should give it to someone more needy than himself.

(Second chain) The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: Whoever Allah Almighty grants sustenance without him asking for it, he should accept it. Abdullah, the son of Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal, says: I asked my father what is meant by "ashraf" (desiring wealth), he said: It is that you keep in your mind the thought that such-and-such person will send such-and-such thing to me, soon I will receive such-and-such thing.

Narrated by Sayyiduna Uqbah bin Amir (may Allah be pleased with him), he says: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) appointed me over the collection of charity and alms. When I sought permission to eat from the wealth of zakat during this service, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) granted us permission.

Sayyiduna Mustawrid bin Shaddad (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Whoever is appointed over our affairs, and if he does not have a house, he should acquire a house; if he does not have a wife, he should get married; if he does not have a servant, he should buy a servant; and if he does not have a mount, he should acquire a mount. But if he takes anything beyond this, he will be considered a betrayer and a thief.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna ‘Adi bin ‘Amirah Kindi (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said: O people! Whoever among you is appointed over our work and he hides a needle or anything more than that, then he is committing a betrayal, and on the Day of Resurrection, he will bring it with him. A man of black complexion stood up—his name was Sa‘d bin ‘Ubadah (may Allah be pleased with him)—the narrator says it is as if I am still seeing him in that state, and he said: O Messenger of Allah! Take this position back from me, I have no need for it. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said: What is the reason for this? He said: I have heard you say such strict things about it. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said: I still say that whoever we assign any responsibility to, he should present everything before us, whether little or much. Then whatever is given to him, he should take, and from whatever he is withheld, he should refrain.

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates: Sayyiduna Hamza (may Allah be pleased with him) came to the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: O Messenger of Allah! Assign me a responsibility through which my livelihood can be maintained. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Hamza! Do you prefer to give life to a soul or to take it? He replied: Yes, to give life to a soul. Upon hearing this, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Then take care of your own soul.