Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 10257 — What the zakah collector does

Sa'd al-A'raj said: I went out for jihad, and I met Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) in Makkah. Sayyiduna Umar asked: Have you come out with the permission of Sayyiduna Ya'la bin Umayyah (may Allah be pleased with him)? I said: No. He said: Go back to your companion. And when a man presents his goats before you (for zakah), divide them into two parts, then make your choice from the other half.