• current selection in your language

PUBLIC OFFICE, EMBEZZLEMENT

216

“If I appoint one of you to public office and you conceal a needle or even less, that is embezzlement, and on the Day of Judgement he will be called upon to produce it.

Then a man with a dark complexion from the tribe of Ansar stood up - I (Adiyy son of Umairah) recall him as if I see him before me now - and said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, take back from me your assignment.’ He asked, ‘What is the matter?’ The man replied, ‘I have just heard you say this and this.’ The Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said, ‘I repeat, anyone I appoint to public office must render an account of everything no matter whether it is large or small. What he is given he may have, but what he is forbidden must be avoided.’”

Muslim with a chain up to Adiyy son of Umairah, who related that he heard the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, say this.