Zakat (Kitab Al-Zakat)

Dawud :: Book 9 : Hadith 1578

Narrated Ubayy ibn Ka'b:

The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) commissioned me as a collector of zakat. I visited a man. When he had collected his property of camels, I found that a she-camel in her second year was due from him.

I said to him: Pay a she-camel in her second year, for she is to be paid as sadaqah (zakat) by you.

He said: That one is not worthy of milking and riding. Here is another she-camel which is young, grand and fat. So take it.

I said to him: I shall not take an animal for which I have not been commanded. The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) is here near to you. If you like, go to him, and present to him what you presented to me. Do that; if he accepts it from you, I shall accept it; if he rejects it, I shall reject it.

He said: I shall do it. He accompanied me and took with him the she-camel which he had presented to me. We came to the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him). He said to him: Prophet of Allah, your messenger came to me to collect zakat on my property. By Allah, neither the Apostle of Allah nor his messenger has ever seen my property before. I gathered my property (camels), and he estimated that a she-camel in her second year would be payable by me. But that has neither milk nor is it worth riding. So I presented to him a grand young she-camel for acceptance as zakat. But he has refused to take her. Look, she is here; I have brought her to you, Apostle of Allah. Take her.

The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said: That is what is due from you. If you give voluntarily a better (animal) Allah will give a reward to you for it. We accept her from you.

She is here, Apostle of Allah; I have brought her to you. So take her. The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) then ordered me to take possession of it, and he prayed for a blessing on his property.