Question

Is this suitable to quote?

One year, during the caliphate of the great companion of Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam); ‘Umar ibn Khattab, Mu’adh (radiyallahu ‘anhu) sent one-third of the Zakah of Yemen to Madinah. This action upset ‘Umar and he admonished Mu’adh, saying that he was sent to take from the rich and give to the poor, not to be a tax collector. To this, Mu’adh replied, “I would not send you anything had I found someone to take it from me.”

 

Answer

This narration is recorded in Kitabul Amwal of Imam Abu ‘Ubayd al Qasim ibn Sallam (rahimahullah).

Sayyiduna Mu’adh ibn Jabal (radiyallahu ‘anhu) was in Janad [a town in Yemen] from the time Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) had sent him there. He remained there during the caliphate of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radiyallahu ‘anhu). Sayyiduna ‘Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhu) also asked him to remain there. Sayyiduna Mu’adh (radiyallahu ‘anhu) sent one third of the Zakah that he collected to Sayyiduna ‘Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhu). He disapproved of this and told him, “I did not send you as a tax collector nor to collect jizyah [yearly taxation levied upon non-Muslims living in a Muslim state]. Rather, I sent you to take the [Zakah] from the wealthy and spend it upon the poor [in that area]. Sayyiduna Mu’adh (radiyallahu ‘anhu) replied that he only sent this amount as there was nobody else who could accept Zakah there at the time. The following year he sent half the amount and the next year he sent the entire amount. Sayyiduna ‘Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhu) told him the same thing to which he replied, “I did not find anyone to take it from me [i.e. I did not find anyone eligible to receive Zakah].”

(Kitabul Amwal: 1675)

 

The chain contains an omission and will therefore be weak.

However, Imam Abu ‘Ubayd al Qasim ibn Sallam has dedicated a chapter entitled “The chapter of distributing zakah in the area it was collected, taking it to other places and who is more deserving of receiving it first.” In addition to the narration in question, he has cited many narrations of a similar nature which support the narration in question.

 

Kindly consult a Mufti/Darul Ifta for a ruling on this issue.

 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

 

Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala

 

Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar

 

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التخريج من المصادر العربية

الأموال للقاسم بن سلام: (٢/ ٢٧٨)
(١٦٧٥) – قال: حدثنا حجاج، عن ابن جريج، قال: أخبرني خلاد، أن عمرو بن شعيب أخبره أن معاذ بن جبل لم يزل بالجند، إذ بعثه رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إلى اليمن حتى مات النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، وأبو بكر، ثم قدم على عمر، فرده على ما كان عليه، فبعث إليه معاذ بثلث صدقة الناس، فأنكر ذلك عمر، وقال: «لم أبعثك جابيًا ولا بآخذ جزية، ولكن بعثتك لتأخذ من أغنياء الناس فتردها على فقرائهم». فقال معاذ: «ما بعثت إليك بشيء وأنا أجد أحدًا يأخذه مني». فلما كان العام الثاني بعث إليه شطر الصدقة، فتراجعا بمثل ذلك فلما كان العام الثالث بعث إليه بها كلها، فراجعه عمر بمثل ما راجعه قبل، فقال معاذ: «ما وجدت أحدًا يأخذ مني شيئا».