Those employed to collect alms deserve a part of the alms, unless they are
relatives of the Messenger of Allah , who are not allowed to accept any Sadaqah.
Muslim recorded that `Abdul-Muttalib bin Rabi`ah bin Al-Harith and Al-Fadl bin
Al-`Abbas went to the Messenger of Allah asking him to employ them to collect
the alms. The Messenger replied,
«إِنَّ الصَّدَقَةَ
لَا تَحِلُّ لِمُحَمَّدٍ وَلَا لِآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، إِنَّمَا هِيَ أَوْسَاخُ
النَّاس»
(Verily, the alms are not allowed for Muhammad nor the relatives of Muhammad,
for it is only the dirt that the people discard.) Al-Mu'allafatu Qulubuhum There
are several types of Al-Mu'allafatu Qulubuhum. There are those who are given
alms to embrace Islam. For instance, the Prophet of Allah gave something to
Safwan bin Umayyah from the war spoils of Hunayn, even though he attended it
while a Mushrik. Safwan said, "He kept giving me until he became the dearest
person to me after he had been the most hated person to me.'' Imam Ahmad
recorded that Safwan bin Umayyah said, "The Messenger of Allah gave me (from the
spoils of) Hunayn while he was the most hateful person to me. He kept giving me
until he became the most beloved person to me.'' Muslim and At-Tirmidhi
collected this Hadith, as well. Some of Al-Mu'allafatu Qulubuhum are given from
alms so that they become better in Islam and their heart firmer in faith. For
instance, the Prophet gave some of the chiefs of the Tulaqa' a hundred camels
each after the battle of Hunayn, saying,
«إِنِّي لَأُعْطِي
الرَّجُلَ وَغَيْرُهُ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِنْهُ خَشْيَةَ أَنْ يُكِبَّهُ اللهُ عَلَى
وَجْهِهِ فِي نَارِ جَهَنَّم»
(I give a man (from the alms) while another man is dearer to me than him, for
fear that Allah might throw him on his face in the fire of Jahannam.) It is
recorded in the Two Sahihs that Abu Sa`id said that `Ali sent the Messenger of
Allah a gold nugget still in its dirt from Yemen. The Prophet divided it between
four men: Al-Aqra` bin Habis, `Uyaynah bin Badr, `Alqamah bin `Ulathah and Zayd
Al-Khayr, saying,
«أَتَأَلَّفُهُم»
(To draw their hearts closer.) Some people are given because some of his
peers might embrace Islam, while others are given to collect alms from
surrounding areas, or to defend Muslim outposts. Allah knows best.
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