Letter Letter : 25

Letter (25): The will of the person who was appointed to collect Zakat and Sadaqah.

He used to write this instruction manual for the officials he appointed to collect Zakat and Sadaqah, and we have included some of its parts here so that it may be known that he always stood up for the pillars of truth and set examples of justice in every small, big and hidden matter. Allah has promised, walk with the fear of associating partners in your heart, and look! Do not frighten a Muslim and do not pass by him in a way that he dislikes and do not take more than Allah's right in his wealth. When you go to a tribe, instead of entering the houses of the people, first go to their wells and descend, then proceed towards them with calmness and dignity until you enter them and stand. Then greet them and say: O servants of Allah! I have been sent to you by the guardian of Allah and His vicegerent. If any right of Allah is found in your wealth, then I will take it. So there is a right of Allah in your wealth that you must convey to the guardian of Allah. If anyone says no, then do not hold him back and ask him, and if anyone says yes, then accompany him without threatening him or being harsh or violent towards him. And whatever gold or silver (dirhams and dinars) you give, (Give it to him and take it.) And if he has cows, goats or camels, do not enter their herds without his permission, for the greater part of them belongs to him. And when you reach them (after permission), do not act as if you have the right to torture them. Do not provoke any animal, do not frighten it, and do not grieve its owner by your wrong attitude towards it. Divide whatever wealth there is into two parts and give the owner the option (to take whatever share he wants), and when he chooses a part, do not interfere with his choice. Then divide the remaining part into two parts and give the owner the option (to take whatever share he wants), and when he chooses a part, do not object to his choice. Continue doing so until there is enough left to fulfill the right of Allah in it, then take it and keep it. However, if he rejects the first choice and wants to choose again, then give him a chance and combine the two parts and then do the same thing anew as you did before, even taking the right of Allah from his wealth. Yes, look! Do not take an old, lame camel, or one with a broken back or a broken leg, or one with a disease or a defect, and entrust them to someone you trust in their piety, who will take care of the property of the Muslims and deliver it to their ruler so that he can distribute it among the Muslims. Entrust them to someone who is kind, God-fearing, trustworthy, and caring, so that he will neither be harsh on them, nor will he make them weak and frail by running around, nor will he tire them out, nor will he put them to any hardship. Then send whatever you have collected to us as soon as possible so that we can use it wherever Allah has commanded. When your trustee takes possession of this property, he should make it clear to him that he will not separate the she-camel from its suckling calf, nor will he take all of its milk, which would be harmful to the calf. and do not make it easy for him to ride on it. Be just and equitable between it and the other camels with it (in riding and milking), and give the tired camel a chance to rest. And lead it gently and gently to the one whose house it has entered or whose feet are beginning to limp. And let it drink water at the pools that are in its path. And do not lead it away from the greenery of the earth and do not lead it on (barren) paths. And give it rest from time to time. And where there is a little water or green grass, give it a respite for a while, so that when it reaches us, it will be fat and fresh, by God's will, and its bones will have grown, and it will not be tired and worn out, so that we may distribute it according to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). Indeed, this is a great reward for you and a means of reaching guidance. It will be through. God willing.