Fath al-Rabbani

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Uthman bin Abi al-As (may Allah be pleased with him) that when the delegation of Banu Thaqif came to the service of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), he accommodated them in the mosque so that their hearts might become softer towards Islam. They presented this condition before the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that when the government officials come to them for the collection of zakat, they should not be forced to take their wealth to the place where the official is sitting, but rather the official should come to their place of residence to collect the zakat, and that the tenth part (‘ushr) of their wealth should not be taken from them, and that they should be exempted from the obligation of prayer, and that no outsider should be appointed over them as an official or leader. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: The official for the collection of zakat will come to your place of residence and you will not have to take your wealth to him, and the tenth part of your wealth will not be taken from you, and no man from any tribe other than your own will be appointed over you as an official or leader. But there is no good in a religion in which there is no bowing (i.e., prayer). Sayyiduna Uthman bin Abi al-As (may Allah be pleased with him) requested: O Messenger of Allah! Teach me the Qur’an and appoint me as the imam of my people.