That when he went to 'Umar during his Caliphate. 'Umar said to him, "Haven't I been told that you do certain jobs for the people but when you are given payment you refuse to take it?" 'Abdullah added: I said, "Yes." 'Umar said, "Why do you do so?" I said, "I have horses and slaves and I am living in prosperity and I wish that my payment should be kept as a charitable gift for the Muslims." 'Umar said, "Do not do so, for I intended to do the same as you do. Messenger of Allah ﷺs used to give me gifts and I used to say to him, 'Give it to a more needy one than me.' Once he gave me some money and I said, 'Give it to a more needy person than me,' whereupon the Prophet ﷺ said, 'Take it and keep it in your possession and then give it in charity. Take what ever comes to you of this money if you are not keen to have it and not asking for it; otherwise (i.e., if it does not come to you) do not seek to have it yourself.' "  

لَهُ عُمَرُ أَلَمْ أُحَدَّثْ أَنَّكَ تَلِي مِنْ أَعْمَالِ النَّاسِ أَعْمَالاً فَإِذَا أُعْطِيتَ الْعُمَالَةَ كَرِهْتَهَا فَقُلْتُ بَلَى فَقَالَ عُمَرُ مَا تُرِيدُ إِلَى ذَلِكَ قُلْتُ إِنَّ لِي أَفْرَاسًا وَأَعْبُدًا وَأَنَا بِخَيْرٍ وَأَرِيدُ أَنْ تَكُونَ عُمَالَتِي صَدَقَةً عَلَى الْمُسْلِمِينَ قَالَ عُمَرُ لاَ تَفْعَلْ فَإِنِّي كُنْتُ أَرَدْتُ الَّذِي أَرَدْتَ فَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُعْطِينِي الْعَطَاءَ فَأَقُولُ أَعْطِهِ أَفْقَرَ إِلَيْهِ مِنِّي حَتَّى أَعْطَانِي مَرَّةً مَالاً فَقُلْتُ أَعْطِهِ أَفْقَرَ إِلَيْهِ مِنِّي فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ خُذْهُ فَتَمَوَّلْهُ وَتَصَدَّقْ بِهِ فَمَا جَاءَكَ مِنْ هَذَا الْمَالِ وَأَنْتَ غَيْرُ مُشْرِفٍ وَلاَ سَائِلٍ فَخُذْهُ وَإِلاَّ فَلاَ تُتْبِعْهُ نَفْسَكَ  

"I heard that you have been doing some work for the Muslims, and you are given payment for that, but you do not accept it. "I said: "Yes (that is so); I have horses and slaves and am well-off, and I wanted my work to be an act of charity toward the Muslims." 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, said: "I wanted the same thing as you. The Prophet used to give me money, and I would say: 'Give it to someone who is more in need of it than I am. Once he gave me money and I said: 'Give it to someone who us more in need of it that I am, and he said: 'Whatever Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, gives you of this wealth without you asking for it or hoping or it, take it and keep it, or give it in charity, and whatever. He does not give you then do not hope for it or wish for it."'  

أَلَمْ أُخْبَرْ أَنَّكَ تَعْمَلُ عَلَى عَمَلٍ مِنْ أَعْمَالِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ فَتُعْطَى عَلَيْهِ عُمَالَةً فَلاَ تَقْبَلُهَا قَالَ أَجَلْ إِنَّ لِي أَفْرَاسًا وَأَعْبُدًا وَأَنَا بِخَيْرٍ وَأُرِيدُ أَنْ يَكُونَ عَمَلِي صَدَقَةً عَلَى الْمُسْلِمِينَ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ ؓ إِنِّي أَرَدْتُ الَّذِي أَرَدْتَ وَكَانَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يُعْطِينِي الْمَالَ فَأَقُولُ أَعْطِهِ مَنْ هُوَ أَفْقَرُ إِلَيْهِ مِنِّي وَإِنَّهُ أَعْطَانِي مَرَّةً مَالاً فَقُلْتُ لَهُ أَعْطِهِ مَنْ هُوَ أَحْوَجُ إِلَيْهِ مِنِّي فَقَالَ مَا آتَاكَ اللَّهُ ﷻ مِنْ هَذَا الْمَالِ مِنْ غَيْرِ مَسْأَلَةٍ وَلاَ إِشْرَافٍ فَخُذْهُ فَتَمَوَّلْهُ أَوْ تَصَدَّقْ بِهِ وَمَا لاَ فَلاَ تُتْبِعْهُ نَفْسَكَ  

"I heard that you do some jobs for the people but when payment is given to you, you refuse it." I said: "(that is so)." 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, said: "Why do you do that? I said: "I have horses and slaves and am well off, and I wanted my work to be an act of charity toward the Muslims." 'Umar said to him: "Do not do that. I used to want the same thing as you. The Messenger of Allah used to give me payment and I would say, 'Give it to someone who is more in need of it that I am.' But the Messenger of Allah said: "Take it and keep it or give it in charity. Whatever comes to you of this wealth when you are not hoping for it and not asking for it, take it, and whatever does not, then do not wish for it. "'  

لَهُ عُمَرُ أَلَمْ أُحَدَّثْ أَنَّكَ تَلِي مِنْ أَعْمَالِ النَّاسِ أَعْمَالاً فَإِذَا أُعْطِيتَ الْعُمَالَةَ رَدَدْتَهَا فَقُلْتُ بَلَى فَقَالَ عُمَرُ ؓ فَمَا تُرِيدُ إِلَى ذَلِكَ فَقُلْتُ لِي أَفْرَاسٌ وَأَعْبُدٌ وَأَنَا بِخَيْرٍ وَأُرِيدُ أَنْ يَكُونَ عَمَلِي صَدَقَةً عَلَى الْمُسْلِمِينَ فَقَالَ لَهُ عُمَرُ فَلاَ تَفْعَلْ فَإِنِّي كُنْتُ أَرَدْتُ مِثْلَ الَّذِي أَرَدْتَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُعْطِينِي الْعَطَاءَ فَأَقُولُ أَعْطِهِ أَفْقَرَ إِلَيْهِ مِنِّي فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ خُذْهُ فَتَمَوَّلْهُ أَوْ تَصَدَّقْ بِهِ مَا جَاءَكَ مِنْ هَذَا الْمَالِ وَأَنْتَ غَيْرُ مُشْرِفٍ وَلاَ سَائِلٍ فَخُذْهُ وَمَا لاَ فَلاَ تُتْبِعْهُ نَفْسَكَ  

"I heard that you do some jobs for the people but when payment is given to you, you do not like it." I said: "Yes (that is so)." He said: "Why do you do that? I said: "I have horses and slaves and well off, and I wanted my work to be an act of charity toward the Muslims." 'Umar said to him: "Do not do that. I used to want the same thing as you. The Messenger of Allah used to give me payment and I would say, 'Give it to someone who is more in need of it than I am' until, on one occasion, the Prophet gave me payment and I said: 'Give it to someone who is more in said: "Take it and keep it or give it in charity. Wealth when you are not hoping for it and not asking for it, take it, and whatever does not, then do not wish for it."'  

عُمَرُ أَلَمْ أُخْبَرْ أَنَّكَ تَلِي مِنْ أَعْمَالِ النَّاسِ أَعْمَالاً فَإِذَا أُعْطِيتَ الْعُمَالَةَ كَرِهْتَهَا قَالَ فَقُلْتُ بَلَى قَالَ فَمَا تُرِيدُ إِلَى ذَلِكَ فَقُلْتُ إِنَّ لِي أَفْرَاسًا وَأَعْبُدًا وَأَنَا بِخَيْرٍ وَأُرِيدُ أَنْ يَكُونَ عَمَلِي صَدَقَةً عَلَى الْمُسْلِمِينَ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ فَلاَ تَفْعَلْ فَإِنِّي كُنْتُ أَرَدْتُ الَّذِي أَرَدْتَ فَكَانَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يُعْطِينِي الْعَطَاءَ فَأَقُولُ أَعْطِهِ أَفْقَرَ إِلَيْهِ مِنِّي حَتَّى أَعْطَانِي مَرَّةً مَالاً فَقُلْتُ أَعْطِهِ أَفْقَرَ إِلَيْهِ مِنِّي فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ خُذْهُ فَتَمَوَّلْهُ وَتَصَدَّقْ بِهِ فَمَا جَاءَكَ مِنْ هَذَا الْمَالِ وَأَنْتَ غَيْرُ مُشْرِفٍ وَلاَ سَائِلٍ فَخُذْهُ وَمَا لاَ فَلاَ تُتْبِعْهُ نَفْسَكَ  

‘Umar said to me: Havenʿt I been told that you do certain tasks for the state, then when you are given payment you do not accept it? He said: Yes. He said: Why do you do that? He said: I am well off and I have slaves and horses; I want my work to be a charity to the Muslims. He said: Do not do that, for I used to do what you are doing, and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would give me payment, and I would say: Give it someone who is more in need of it than me, And he said: Whatever of this wealth comes to you when you are not hoping for it or asking for it, take it, otherwise do not hanker after it.” It was narrated that as-Saʿib bin Yazeed said: ʿUmar met ʿAbdullah bin as-Saʿdi... and he mentioned a similar report, but he said: “Give it in charity,” and he said: “Do not hanker after it.ʿ  

لِي عُمَرُ أَلَمْ أُحَدَّثْ أَنَّكَ تَلِي مِنْ أَعْمَالِ النَّاسِ أَعْمَالًا فَإِذَا أُعْطِيتَ الْعُمَالَةَ لَمْ تَقْبَلْهَا؟ قَالَ نَعَمْقَالَ فَمَا تُرِيدُ إِلَى ذَاكَ؟ قَالَ أَنَا غَنِيٌّ لِي أَعْبُدٌ وَلِي أَفْرَاسٌ أُرِيدُ أَنْ يَكُونَ عَمَلِي صَدَقَةً عَلَى الْمُسْلِمِينَ قَالَ لَا تَفْعَلْ فَإِنِّي كُنْتُ أَفْعَلُ مِثْلَ الَّذِي تَفْعَلُ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ يُعْطِينِي الْعَطَاءَ فَأَقُولُ أَعْطِهِ مَنْ هُوَ أَفْقَرُ إِلَيْهِ مِنِّي فَقَالَ خُذْهُ فَإِمَّا أَنْ تَمَوَّلَهُ وَإِمَّا أَنْ تَصَدَّقَ بِهِ وَمَا آتَاكَ اللهُ مِنْ هَذَا الْمَالِ وَأَنْتَ غَيْرُ مُشْرِفٍ لَهُ وَلا سَائِلِهِ فَخُذْهُ وَمَا لَا فَلا تُتْبِعْهُ نَفْسَكَ  

Was I not told that you do work for people, then when you are given your wages you do not accept it? I said: Yes. ʿUmar said: Why do you do that? I said: I have horses and slaves, and I am well off. I want my work to be an act of charity towards the Muslims. 'Umar said: Do not do that, for I wanted to do the same as you want to do. The Prophet ﷺ would give me some payment and I would say: Give it to one who is more in need of it than me. One day he gave me something and I said: Give it to one who is more in need of it than me. The Prophet ﷺ said: ʿTake it, keep it, and give it in charity, Whatever of this wealth comes to you when you are not hoping for it or asking for it, accept it, but if it does not come to you, do not hope for it.”  

لَهُ عُمَرُ أَلَمْ أُحَدَّثْ أَنَّكَ تَلِي مِنْ أَعْمَالِ النَّاسِ أَعْمَالًا فَإِذَا أُعْطِيتَ الْعُمَالَةَ كَرِهْتَهَا؟ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ بَلَى فَقَالَ عُمَرُ فَمَا تُرِيدُ إِلَى ذَلِكَ؟ قَالَ قُلْتُ إِنَّ لِي أَفْرَاسًا وَأَعْبُدًا وَأَنَا بِخَيْرٍ وَأُرِيدُ أَنْ تَكُونَ عَمَالَتِي صَدَقَةً عَلَى الْمُسْلِمِينَ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ فَلا تَفْعَلْ فَإِنِّي قَدْ كُنْتُ أَرَدْتُ الَّذِي أَرَدْتَ فَكَانَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يُعْطِينِي الْعَطَاءَ فَأَقُولُ أَعْطِهِ أَفْقَرَ إِلَيْهِ مِنِّي حَتَّى أَعْطَانِي مَرَّةً مَالًا فَقُلْتُ أَعْطِهِ أَفْقَرَ إِلَيْهِ مِنِّي قَالَ فَقَالَ لَهُ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ خُذْهُ فَتَمَوَّلْهُ وَتَصَدَّقْ بِهِ فَمَا جَاءَكَ مِنْ هَذَا الْمَالِ وَأَنْتَ غَيْرُ مُشْرِفٍ وَلا سَائِلٍ فَخُذْهُ وَمَا لَا فَلا تُتْبِعْهُ نَفْسَكَ  

"I heard that you have been doing some work for the Muslims, and you are given payment for that, but you do not accept it. "I said: "Yes (that is so); I have horses and slaves and am well-off, and I wanted my work to be an act of charity toward the Muslims." 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, said: "I wanted the same thing as you. The Prophet used to give me money, and I would say: 'Give it to someone who is more in need of it than I am. Once he gave me money and I said: 'Give it to someone who us more in need of it that I am, and he said: 'Whatever Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, gives you of this wealth without you asking for it or hoping or it, take it and keep it, or give it in charity, and whatever. He does not give you then do not hope for it or wish for it."' (Using translation from Nasāʾī 2605)  

أَلَمْ أُخْبَرْ أَنَّكَ تَعْمَلُ عَلَى عَمَلٍ مِنْ أَعْمَالِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ فَتُعْطَى عَلَيْهِ عُمَالَةً فَلَا تَقْبَلُهَا؟ فَقَالَ أَجَلْ إِنَّ لِي أَفْرَاسًا وَأَعْبُدًا وَأَنَا بِخَيْرٍ فَأُرِيدُ أَنْ يَكُونَ عَمَلِي صَدَقَةً عَلَى الْمُسْلِمِينَ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ إِنِّي أَرَدْتُ الَّذِي أَرَدْتَ وَكَانَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يُعْطِينِي الْمَالَ فَأَقُولُ أَعْطِهِ مَنْ هُوَ أَحْوَجُ إِلَيْهِ مِنِّي وَإِنَّهُ أَعْطَانِي مَرَّةً مَالًا فَقُلْتُ أَعْطِهِ مَنْ هُوَ أَحْوَجُ إِلَيْهِ مِنِّي فَقَالَ «مَا آتَاكَ اللهُ مِنْ هَذَا الْمَالِ مِنْ غَيْرِ مَسْأَلَةٍ وَلَا إِشْرَافٍ فَخُذْهُ فَتَمَوَّلْهُ أَوْ تَصَدَّقْ بِهِ وَمَا لَا فَلَا تُتْبِعْهُ نَفْسَكَ»  

"I heard that you do some jobs for the people but when payment is given to you, you refuse it." I said: "(that is so)." 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, said: "Why do you do that? I said: "I have horses and slaves and am well off, and I wanted my work to be an act of charity toward the Muslims." 'Umar said to him: "Do not do that. I used to want the same thing as you. The Messenger of Allah used to give me payment and I would say, 'Give it to someone who is more in need of it that I am.' But the Messenger of Allah said: "Take it and keep it or give it in charity. Whatever comes to you of this wealth when you are not hoping for it and not asking for it, take it, and whatever does not, then do not wish for it. "' (Using translation from Nasāʾī 2606)  

لَهُ عُمَرُ أَلَمْ أُحَدَّثْ أَنَّكَ تَلِي مِنْ أَعْمَالِ النَّاسِ أَعْمَالًا فَإِذَا أُعْطِيتَ الْعُمَالَةَ رَدَدْتَهَا؟ فَقُلْتُ بَلَى فَقَالَ عُمَرُ فَمَا تُرِيدُ إِلَى ذَلِكَ؟ قُلْتُ لِي أَفْرَاسٌ وَأَعْبُدٌ وَأَنَا بِخَيْرٍ وَأُرِيدُ أَنْ يَكُونَ عَمَلِي صَدَقَةً عَلَى الْمُسْلِمِينَ فَقَالَ لَهُ عُمَرُ فَلَا تَفْعَلْ فَإِنِّي كُنْتُ أَرَدْتُ مِثْلَ الَّذِي أَرَدْتَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ يُعْطِينِي الْعَطَاءَ فَأَقُولُ لَهُ أَعْطِهِ أَفْقَرَ إِلَيْهِ مِنِّي فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «خُذْهُ تَمَوَّلْهُ أَوْ تَصَدَّقْ بِهِ مَا جَاءَكَ مِنْ هَذَا الْمَالِ وَأَنْتَ غَيْرُ مُشْرِفٍ وَلَا سَائِلٍ فَخُذْهُ وَمَا لَا فَلَا تُتْبِعْهُ نَفْسَكَ»  

Was I not told that you do work for people, then when you are given your wages you do not accept it? I said: Yes. ʿUmar said: Why do you do that? I said: I have horses and slaves, and I am well off. I want my work to be an act of charity towards the Muslims. 'Umar said: Do not do that, for I wanted to do the same as you want to do. The Prophet ﷺ would give me some payment and I would say: Give it to one who is more in need of it than me. One day he gave me something and I said: Give it to one who is more in need of it than me. The Prophet ﷺ said: ʿTake it, keep it, and give it in charity, Whatever of this wealth comes to you when you are not hoping for it or asking for it, accept it, but if it does not come to you, do not hope for it.” (Using translation from Aḥmad 100)  

عُمَرُ أَلَمْ أُحَدَّثْ أَنَّكَ تَلِي مِنْ أَعْمَالِ النَّاسِ أَعْمَالًا فَإِذَا أُعْطِيتَ الْعُمَالَةَ كَرِهْتَهَا؟ قَالَ قُلْتُ بَلَى قَالَ فَمَا تُرِيدُ إِلَى ذَلِكَ؟ قُلْتُ إِنَّ لِي أَفْرَاسًا وَأَعْبُدًا وَأَنَا بِخَيْرٍ فَأُرِيدُ أَنْ تَكُونَ عَمَالتِي صَدَقَةً عَلَى الْمُسْلِمِينَ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ فَلَا تَفْعَلْ فَإِنِّي قَدْ كُنْتُ أَرَدْتُ الَّذِي أَرَدْتَ فَكَانَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يُعْطِينِي الْعَطَاءَ فَأَقُولُ أَعْطِهِ أَفْقَرَ إِلَيْهِ مِنِّي حَتَّى أَعْطَانِي مَرَّةً مَالًا فَقُلْتُ أَعْطِهِ أَفْقَرَ إِلَيْهِ مِنِّي فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ «خُذْهُ فَتَمَوَّلْهُ وَتَصَدَّقْ بِهِ فَمَا جَاءَكَ مِنْ هَذَا الْمَالِ وَأَنْتَ غَيْرُ مُشْرِفٍ وَلَا سَائِلٍ فَخُذْهُ وَمَا لَا فَلَا تُتْبِعْهُ نَفْسَكَ»  

Was I not told that you do work for people, then when you are given your wages you do not accept it? I said: Yes. ʿUmar said: Why do you do that? I said: I have horses and slaves, and I am well off. I want my work to be an act of charity towards the Muslims. 'Umar said: Do not do that, for I wanted to do the same as you want to do. The Prophet ﷺ would give me some payment and I would say: Give it to one who is more in need of it than me. One day he gave me something and I said: Give it to one who is more in need of it than me. The Prophet ﷺ said: ʿTake it, keep it, and give it in charity, Whatever of this wealth comes to you when you are not hoping for it or asking for it, accept it, but if it does not come to you, do not hope for it.” (Using translation from Aḥmad 100)   

لَهُ عُمَرُ أَلَمْ أُحَدَّثْ أَنَّكَ تَلِي مِنْ أَعْمَالِ النَّاسِ أَعْمَالًا فَإِذَا أُعْطِيتَ الْعُمَالَةَ كَرِهْتَهَا؟ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ بَلَى قَالَ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ ؓ فَمَا تُرِيدُ إِلَى ذَلِكَ؟ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ إِنَّ لِي أَفْرَاسًا وَأَعْبُدًا وَأَنَا بِالْخَيْرِ وَأُرِيدُ أَنْ تَكُونَ عُمَالَتِي صَدَقَةً عَلَى الْمُسْلِمِينَ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ ؓ فَلَا تَفْعَلْ؛ فَإِنِّي قَدْ كُنْتُ أَرَدْتُ ذَلِكَ وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ يُعْطِينِي الْعَطَاءَ فَأَقُولُ أَعْطِهِ أَفْقَرَ إِلَيْهِ مِنِّي حَتَّى أَعْطَانِي مَرَّةً مَالًا فَقُلْتُ أَعْطِهِ أَفْقَرَ إِلَيْهِ مِنِّي فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ خُذْهُ فَتَمَوَّلْهُ أَوْ تَصَدَّقْ بِهِ وَمَا جَاءَكَ مِنْ هَذَا الْمَالِ وَأَنْتَ غَيْرُ مُشْرِفٍ وَلَا سَائِلٍ فَخُذْهُ وَمَا لَا فَلَا تُتْبِعْهُ نَفْسَكَ