Sunan an-Nasa'i
Sunan an-Nasa'i 2605
أَخْبَرَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ أَبُو عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ الْمَخْزُومِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنِ السَّائِبِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ، عَنْ حُوَيْطِبِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْعُزَّى، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ السَّعْدِيِّ، أَنَّهُ قَدِمَ عَلَى عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ رضى الله عنه مِنَ الشَّامِ فَقَالَ 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 رضى الله عنه إِنِّي أَرَدْتُ الَّذِي أَرَدْتَ وَكَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم 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 عَزَّ وَجَلَّ مِنْ هَذَا الْمَالِ مِنْ غَيْرِ مَسْأَلَةٍ وَلاَ إِشْرَافٍ فَخُذْهُ فَتَمَوَّلْهُ أَوْ تَصَدَّقْ بِهِ وَمَا لاَ فَلاَ تُتْبِعْهُ نَفْسَكَ " .
Saeed ibn Abd al-Rahman Abu Ubayd Allah al-Makhzumi reported: Sufyan narrated to us, from al-Zuhri, from al-Saib ibn Yazid, from Huwaytib ibn Abd al-Uzza, who said: Abd Allah ibn al-Sadi informed me that he came from Syria to Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him. Umar said: Have I not been told that you hold a position among the Muslims and are given a payment for it, but do not accept it? He said: Yes. I have horses and enslaved servants, and I am well-off. I want my service to be charity for the Muslims. Umar said: I wanted what you want. The Prophet ﷺ used to give me wealth, and I would say: Give it to someone poorer than me. Once he gave me wealth, and I said to him: Give it to someone more in need of it than me. He said: Whatever Allah, Mighty and Majestic, gives you of this wealth without your asking for it or coveting it, take it, make it your own, or give it in charity. As for what is not given to you, do not let yourself pursue it.
Translation notes
The source distinguishes an unsolicited payment from wealth that a person actively seeks. The speaker states his material circumstances and his wish to serve without payment.