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مسند اسحاق بن راهويه
Musnad Ishaq
كتاب الخمسBook of Khums (One-Fifth Tax)
The Prophet describing himself as a treasurer
Hadith 542
اُردوEn
وَبِهَذَا، عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: ((لَا أُوتِيتُكُمْ شَيْئًا وَلَا أَمْنَعُكُمُوهُ إِنْ أَنَا إِلَّا خَازِنٌ أَضَعُ حَيْثُ أُمِرْتُ)).
With this same chain: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "I neither give you anything from myself nor withhold from you; I am only a treasurer, and I give as I am commanded."
Explanation & Benefits
Hafiz Abdush Shakoor Tirmidhi
Benefits:
From the aforementioned hadith, it is understood that although the Noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam is the leader of the children of Adam, he still presents himself as a treasurer appointed by Allah, the Possessor of Majesty. This means that the resources of the state are not the personal property of the rulers; rather, all citizens have a right in them.
The above-mentioned hadith specifically relates to the issue of khums (one-fifth), and generally to all commands and prohibitions of Islam. That is, the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam had no authority to dispose of any matter on his own; rather, the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam would only say that which was commanded by Allah, the Possessor of Majesty, because He alone is the Owner of all wealth and authority, and the Disposer of all affairs. He alone is the absolute Giver and Withholder. And the status of the blessed person of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam is like that of a treasurer who implements the commands sent down by Allah Ta'ala; now, whether someone receives little or in abundance, both are based on the divine command.
Furthermore, all the scholars are agreed that until the command regarding the distribution of war booty (mal-e-ghanīmah) and khums (one-fifth) (which is the portion of wealth set aside for Allah and His Messenger sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, and is called khums) was revealed from Allah, the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam used to distribute the war booty according to his own ijtihad (independent reasoning). Moreover, Allah Tabaraka wa Ta'ala has explained the matter of war booty and khums in a very comprehensive manner. Thus, the statement of Allah is:
﴿وَ اعْلَمُوْٓا اَنَّمَا غَنِمْتُمْ مِّنْ شَیْئٍ فَاَنَّ لِلّٰهِ خُمُسَهٗ وَ لِلرَّسُوْلِ وَلِذِی الْقُرْبٰی وَ الْیَتٰمٰی وَ الْمَسٰکِیْنِ وَ ابْنِ السَّبِیْلِ﴾ (al-Anfal: 41)
"And know that whatever spoils of war you acquire, a fifth of it is for Allah and for the Messenger and for the relatives (of the Messenger sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), the orphans, the needy, and the traveler."
From the aforementioned hadith, it is understood that although the Noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam is the leader of the children of Adam, he still presents himself as a treasurer appointed by Allah, the Possessor of Majesty. This means that the resources of the state are not the personal property of the rulers; rather, all citizens have a right in them.
The above-mentioned hadith specifically relates to the issue of khums (one-fifth), and generally to all commands and prohibitions of Islam. That is, the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam had no authority to dispose of any matter on his own; rather, the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam would only say that which was commanded by Allah, the Possessor of Majesty, because He alone is the Owner of all wealth and authority, and the Disposer of all affairs. He alone is the absolute Giver and Withholder. And the status of the blessed person of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam is like that of a treasurer who implements the commands sent down by Allah Ta'ala; now, whether someone receives little or in abundance, both are based on the divine command.
Furthermore, all the scholars are agreed that until the command regarding the distribution of war booty (mal-e-ghanīmah) and khums (one-fifth) (which is the portion of wealth set aside for Allah and His Messenger sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, and is called khums) was revealed from Allah, the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam used to distribute the war booty according to his own ijtihad (independent reasoning). Moreover, Allah Tabaraka wa Ta'ala has explained the matter of war booty and khums in a very comprehensive manner. Thus, the statement of Allah is:
﴿وَ اعْلَمُوْٓا اَنَّمَا غَنِمْتُمْ مِّنْ شَیْئٍ فَاَنَّ لِلّٰهِ خُمُسَهٗ وَ لِلرَّسُوْلِ وَلِذِی الْقُرْبٰی وَ الْیَتٰمٰی وَ الْمَسٰکِیْنِ وَ ابْنِ السَّبِیْلِ﴾ (al-Anfal: 41)
"And know that whatever spoils of war you acquire, a fifth of it is for Allah and for the Messenger and for the relatives (of the Messenger sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), the orphans, the needy, and the traveler."
Source: Musnad Ishaq bin Rahwayh, Page: 542
