The Prophet (ﷺ) appointed a man from the tribe of Al-Azd, called Ibn 'Utbiyya for collecting the Zakat. When he returned he said, "This (i.e. the Zakat) is for you and this has been given to my as a present." The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Why hadn't he stayed in his father's or mother's house to see whether he would be given presents or not? By Him in Whose Hands my life is, whoever takes something from the resources of the Zakat (unlawfully) will be carrying it on his neck on the Day of Resurrection; if it be a camel, it will be grunting; if a cow, it will be mooing; and if a sheep, it will be bleating." The Prophet then raised his hands till we saw the whiteness of his armpits, and he said thrice, "O Allah! Haven't I conveyed Your Message (to them)?"
Context and Background
This narration from Sahih al-Bukhari 2597 addresses the grave matter of misappropriating zakat funds, which are designated as the right of the poor and specific categories mentioned in the Quran. The incident involves a zakat collector who unlawfully took from these sacred funds.
Scholarly Commentary
Ibn 'Utbiyya's statement "This is for you and this has been given to me as a present" reveals his attempt to legitimize his misappropriation by framing it as a gift. The Prophet's rhetorical response exposes the fallacy of this justification - as an appointed official, any "gifts" he received were inherently tied to his position.
The severe warning about carrying misappropriated wealth on the Day of Judgment illustrates how physical objects will testify against their wrongful possessors. The specific animal sounds mentioned emphasize that even animals given as zakat will bear witness to their misuse.
Legal and Ethical Implications
This hadith establishes that public officials cannot accept gifts related to their duties, as these constitute bribery. Zakat funds have specific recipients ordained by Allah, and diverting them is a major sin.
The Prophet's triple declaration "O Allah! Haven't I conveyed Your Message?" serves as both a warning to the ummah and a testimony that he fulfilled his prophetic duty of clear guidance regarding the sanctity of zakat funds.
Spiritual Consequences
The imagery of carrying misappropriated wealth on Judgment Day signifies the burden of sin and the personal accountability each soul will face. This serves as a powerful deterrent against violating the trust placed in those handling public funds, particularly religious obligations like zakat.