Regarding Accepting Gifts from Rulers and Governors

Yahya narrates that the noble Hasanain (may Allah be pleased with them) used to accept the fruits sent by Hazrat Muawiyah (may Allah be pleased with him).

Hazrat Habib narrates that Hazrat Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) and Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) used to receive gifts from Mukhtar Thaqafi and they would accept them.

Hazrat Abdur Rahman bin Asma reports that I was with Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) when a messenger from Hazrat Muawiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) came to her with a gift, and she accepted that gift.

Hazrat Ata states that Hazrat Muawiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) sent a necklace to Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) whose value was approximately one hundred thousand. Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) accepted this necklace and distributed it among the Mothers of the Believers (may Allah be pleased with them).

Hazrat Abdul Malik bin Umair narrates that Bishr bin Marwan gave me five hundred dirhams so that I could distribute them among Hazrat Abu Juhaifa, Hazrat Abu Razin, Hazrat Amr bin Maymoon, Hazrat Murrah, and Hazrat Abu Abdur Rahman. Hazrat Abu Razin, Hazrat Abu Juhaifa, and Hazrat Amr bin Maymoon (may Allah be pleased with them) returned this money, and the remaining individuals accepted it.

It is narrated similarly through another chain.

A man asked Hasan, "I go to the official and he gives me (something); should I accept it?" He replied, "Woe to you! Take the money and go."

Hazrat Qais narrates that I visited Hazrat Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) during his illness along with my father. On our return, he made us ride on two horses. I saw Hazrat Asma that there was wasmah applied on her hand and she was removing it.

Hazrat Ibrahim and Hazrat Tamim bin Salamah went to an official. That official gave more gifts to Tamim than to Ibrahim, which made Ibrahim angry.

Khalid bin Saif sent thirty thousand dirhams to Masruq, but he returned them. Someone said to him that you could accept them and give them in charity, but still he refused to take the dirhams.

Hazrat Ikrimah says that there is no harm in accepting gifts from governors.

Hazrat A’mash narrates that Ibrahim went to a governor, and the governor gave him gifts and made him ride on a mount. Ibrahim accepted everything.

Hazrat Abu Ja'far says that there is no harm in accepting gifts from officials.

Hazrat Aamir says that there is no harm in officials accepting gifts.

Hazrat Humaid narrates that Ibn Hubaira sent gifts to Hasan (may Allah have mercy on him) and Hazrat Bakr. Both of them accepted, but when he sent gifts to Muhammad, he did not accept them.

Hazrat Habib narrates that a man sent a gift to Hazrat Zarr. He asked the messenger whether he had sent this gift to every Muslim. The man replied in the negative, and Hazrat Zarr refused to accept it and recited this verse: { کَلاَّ إِنَّہَا لَظَی نَزَّاعَۃً لِلشَّوَی }

Hazrat Ibn Mina reports that Abdul Aziz bin Marwan sent a gift to Hazrat Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them), and he accepted it. He also sent a gift to Hazrat Abdullah bin Ayyash, but he did not accept it.

Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) says that there is no harm in accepting gifts from workers; it is their trade and work, and they give you from their lawful wealth.

Ibrahim says that if I go to any official and he gives me some gifts, I will accept them; it is like the treasury (Bayt al-Mal) in which all kinds of wealth, good and bad, come. When a messenger comes to you with a gift for a sinful act, there is no good in that gift, but if he brings a gift for a permissible act, then there is no harm in that gift.

Hazrat Aamir bin Huzaym narrates that Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) gave him a gift of one thousand dinars.

Hazrat Ash'ath bin Abi Ash-Sha'tha narrates that a group of thirty of us set out on a journey. Our leader was Hazrat Aswad, who had been appointed as the leader by Bishr bin Marwan. Bishr gave him fifty dinars, which he accepted.