Fath al-Rabbani

Benefits: … From these ahadith it is understood how grave a crime betrayal (khiyanat) is. The summary regarding this is that, at the time of appointment to any governmental or non-governmental employment, it is extremely necessary to observe and respect the conditions and restrictions that are agreed upon. Furthermore, from the following hadith it is understood that those who go as agents (‘amil) and collectors (sa‘i) to collect charity (sadaqah) and zakat, whatever is given to them as a gift during this journey will also not be permissible for them:

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Humayd Sa‘idi radi Allahu anhu that the Noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam appointed a man from the tribe of Azd, named Ibn Lutbiyyah, as a collector of zakat. When he returned, he said: “This wealth is yours, and this was given to me as a gift.” Upon hearing this, the Noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam ascended the pulpit, praised and glorified Allah, and then said:

((What is the matter with the agent whom we send, and when he returns, he says: ‘This is for you, and this was given to me as a gift’? Why does he not sit in the house of his mother or father and see whether he is given a gift or not? No one among you brings anything from this except that he will bring it on the Day of Resurrection, whether it be a camel, it will be groaning, or a cow, it will be mooing, or a sheep, it will be bleating.))

“What is the matter with this agent whom we send, but when he returns, he says: ‘This is yours, and this was given to me as a gift’? Let him sit in the house of his mother or father and see whether he is given a gift or not. Whoever takes anything from this will bring it with him on the Day of Resurrection; if it is a camel, it will be groaning; if it is a cow, it will be mooing; and if it is a sheep, it will be bleating.”