عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ السَّعْدِيِّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ أَنَّهُ قَدِمَ عَلَى عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ فِي خِلَافَتِهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ عُمَرُ أَلَمْ أُحَدَّثْ أَنَّكَ تَلِي مِنْ أَعْمَالِ النَّاسِ أَعْمَالًا فَإِذَا أُعْطِيتَ الْعُمَالَةَ كَرِهْتَهَا قَالَ فَقُلْتُ بَلَى فَقَالَ عُمَرُ فَمَا تُرِيدُ إِلَى ذَلِكَ قَالَ قُلْتُ إِنَّ لِي أَفْرَاسًا وَأَعْبُدًا وَأَنَا بِخَيْرٍ وَأُرِيدُ أَنْ تَكُونَ عُمَالَتِي صَدَقَةً عَلَى الْمُسْلِمِينَ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ فَلَا تَفْعَلْ فَإِنِّي قَدْ كُنْتُ أَرَدْتُ الَّذِي أَرَدْتَ فَكَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُعْطِينِي الْعَطَاءَ فَأَقُولُ أَعْطِهِ أَفْقَرَ إِلَيْهِ مِنِّي قَالَ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ خُذْهُ فَتَمَوَّلْهُ وَتَصَدَّقْ بِهِ فَمَا جَاءَكَ مِنْ هَذَا الْمَالِ وَأَنْتَ غَيْرُ مُشْرِفٍ وَلَا سَائِلٍ فَخُذْهُ وَمَا لَا فَلَا تُتْبِعْهُ نَفْسَكَ
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.