Hadith 645

حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مَنِيعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ هَارُونَ، أَخْبَرَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ عِيَاضٍ، عَنْ عَاصِمِ بْنِ عُمَرَ بْنِ قَتَادَةَ ح . وحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيل، قَالَ : حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْحَاق، عَنْ عَاصِمِ بْنِ عُمَرَ بْنِ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ مَحْمُودِ بْنِ لَبِيدٍ، عَنْ رَافِعِ بْنِ خَدِيجٍ، قَالَ : سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ، يَقُولُ : " الْعَامِلُ عَلَى الصَّدَقَةِ بِالْحَقِّ كَالْغَازِي فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ حَتَّى يَرْجِعَ إِلَى بَيْتِهِ " . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى : حَدِيثُ رَافِعِ بْنِ خَدِيجٍ حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ ، وَيَزِيدُ بْنُ عِيَاضٍ ضَعِيفٌ عِنْدَ أَهْلِ الْحَدِيثِ ، وَحَدِيثُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْحَاق أَصَحُّ .
´Rafi bin Khadij narrated:` "I herd the Messenger of Allah saying: 'The one who works in collecting charity in truth is like the one who fights in the cause of Allah until he returns.'"
Hadith Reference سنن ترمذي / كتاب الزكاة عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم / 645
Hadith Grading الألبانی: حسن صحيح، ابن ماجة (1809)
Hadith Takhrij «سنن ابی داود/ الخراج 7 (2936) سنن ابن ماجہ/الزکاة14 (1809) ( تحفة الأشراف : 3583) (صحیح)»
Related hadith on this topic
Explanation & Benefits
Shaykh Umar Farooq Saeedi
Benefits and Issues:
Where there is virtue and reward in giving charity and zakat,
there, likewise, the one who collects these from Muslims and deposits them in the public treasury (bayt al-mal) with trustworthiness and honesty is also a person of virtue.
The eminent Companions (radi Allahu anhum ajma'in) and other righteous members of the Ummah have continued to perform this task.
And if any appointed collector demands more than what is religiously obligatory, it is forbidden (haram).
Since the time the government has withdrawn from this responsibility in our present circumstances,
Muslims themselves fulfill this duty individually.
And institutions engaged in Islamic propagation meet their expenses from these funds.
Similarly, collecting and gathering these amounts is also an important responsibility.
Whereas ignorant Muslims look upon such individuals with disdain,
which is entirely wrong and serves to discourage the true callers to righteousness.
From this hadith, it is understood that performing this task as a religious obligation is a source of reward with Allah,
insha Allah.
However, those who commit treachery in this matter and become guilty of ghulul (embezzlement), which is a major sin,
are worthy of condemnation.
And in today's era, such people are numerous.
They are also a cause of disgrace for the honest individuals.
Source: Sunan Abu Dawood – Commentary by Shaykh Umar Farooq Saeedi, Page: 2936
Maulana Ataullah Sajid
Benefits and Issues:

To collect zakat with justice means that one should collect only the amount that is legally obligatory upon someone according to the Shari‘ah.
One should neither demand more and thus oppress those giving zakat, nor collect less and thereby cause the rightful recipients to be deprived of their due.
In an Islamic state, performing the duties of a government position with honesty is a service to Islam and the Islamic state.
A mujahid strives to protect the Islamic state from enemies and guards its geographical borders.
Similarly, the one who fulfills financial responsibilities also protects the economic boundaries of the state and strengthens it, so that the enemy does not dare to attack; in this respect, his duties are no less important.
To fulfill one’s duties with honesty is a deed of great reward.
Source: Commentary on Sunan Ibn Mājah by Mawlānā ‘Atā’ullāh Sājid, Page: 1809