Narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abi Awfa (may Allah be pleased with him), who was among the Companions who pledged allegiance under the tree (i.e., those who took the pledge of Ridwan), he says: Whenever a person would bring charity to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), he (peace and blessings be upon him) would pray for him in this way: "Allahumma salli 'alayhim." (O Allah! Have mercy on them.) My father also brought charity to him, so the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed for him in this way: "Allahumma salli 'ala Aal Abi Awfa." (O Allah! Have mercy on the family of Abu Awfa.)

. (Second chain of narration) He says: I heard Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abi Awfa (may Allah be pleased with him) saying: When a man would bring the zakat of his wealth to the service of the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), he (peace and blessings be upon him) would pray for mercy for him. One day, I also brought the zakat of my father's wealth to the service of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), so he (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed as follows: "Allahumma salli 'ala aali Abi Awfa." (O Allah! Have mercy on the family of Abu Awfa.)

Narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him), the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: A man said, "Tonight I will certainly give charity." So he went out with his charity and (unknowingly) gave it to an adulterous woman. In the morning, people began to say that last night charity was given to an adulteress. He decided again that he would certainly give charity that night (so that it might reach someone deserving). So he took out charity, but unknowingly gave it to a thief. When morning came, people began to say that last night charity was given to a thief. He thought again that he would give charity that night. So he went out with charity and unknowingly gave it to a wealthy man. When morning came, people said: Last night charity was given to a wealthy man. He said: In every case, all praise is due to Allah; charity has been given to an adulteress, a thief, and a wealthy man. Then someone came and informed him (perhaps it was said to him in a dream): Your charity has been accepted. By giving charity to the adulteress, it is possible that she may become chaste; likewise, it is possible that the thief may refrain from stealing, and the wealthy man may take a lesson and spend from what Allah has given him.

Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that a man from Banu Tamim came to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and asked: O Messenger of Allah! If I pay zakat to your appointed representative, will I be absolved before Allah and His Messenger? The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Yes, when you pay zakat to my representative, your responsibility will be fulfilled and you will receive its reward. However, whoever makes any alteration (and misappropriates it), he will be sinful.

Narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him), the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Soon such rulers will be imposed over you who will give preference to others over you. The Companions asked: O Messenger of Allah! What should a person among us do if he finds such a situation? He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Fulfill the right that is due from you and ask Allah for your own right.

… In another narration: Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) says: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said to us: After me, you will see that others will be given preference over you and you will also see evil matters. We said: In such circumstances, what do you advise us to do? He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Fulfill their (the rulers’) rights and ask Allah for your own right.

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Amr bin al-As (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Zakat should be collected from Muslims at their own places.

Narrated by Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Amr bin al-As (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: (In the matter of zakat) there is neither jalab nor janab, and zakat should be collected from Muslims only at their places of residence.

Sayyida Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates, she says: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was present in my house when a man came and asked: What is the amount of zakat on such and such wealth? The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) replied: Such and such amount. He said: Then so-and-so has wronged me and collected more zakat from me. Then when they investigated, they found that indeed he had taken an extra amount equal to one sa’. So the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: What will be your condition when your rulers will oppress you even more than this?

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Jarir bin Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him), he says: Some Bedouins came to the service of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: O Prophet of Allah! Your representatives for zakat (in the matter of collecting zakat) act unjustly towards us. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: You should please them. They said: Even if they act unjustly? The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Just please them. Sayyiduna Jarir (may Allah be pleased with him) says: Since I heard this hadith from the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), the zakat representative has always left me pleased.

The Noble Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) also said: Whoever is deprived of gentleness is deprived of (all) goodness.