Generosity with the Wealth Accumulated in Yemen
It is written in Al Isti‘ab, a book of history, that Hazrat Mu‘az (ra) was very generous and it was due to this generosity and benevolence that he fell into debt. He went to the Holy Prophet (sa) and requested him to ask those whom he owed to forgive his debt. This is the same incident mentioned earlier but from another source. The Holy Prophet (sa) made this request to those who he owed money to, but they refused to forgive the debt. Had they agreed to forgive the debts of Hazrat Mu‘az (ra) bin Jabal for anyone’s sake, it would have been for the sake of the Holy Prophet (sa), as his rank and status was the greatest. Thus, it could only have been for his sake that one would forgive the debts owed to them or would present financial sacrifices. However, as mentioned earlier, some people refused and said, “O Messenger (sa) of Allah, we will take the debt owed to us.” Then, in order to repay these debts, the Holy Prophet(sa) sold off the properties of Hazrat Mu‘az(ra) bin Jabal and he was left with no wealth or possessions.
In the same year as the Conquest of Mecca, the Holy Prophet (sa) sent Hazrat Mu‘az (ra) as a governor [Amir] in one part of Yemen. Here it becomes clear that he was sent in the capacity of a governor; thus, any gifts he received in this capacity would have been considered as part of the treasury. He was the first person to conduct business from the treasury using the wealth given in the way of Allah. He remained in Yemen until the Holy Prophet’s (sa) demise, by which time he had become affluent. During this period, his business became profitable and whatever portion he would take led him to become well-off.
Later, when he returned [to Medina], Hazrat Umar (ra) said to Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra), “He (i.e. Hazrat Mu‘az (ra)) should be summoned and aside from the necessities he requires, the rest of his wealth should be taken off him. The Holy Prophet (sa) only granted him permission for the sake of repaying his debts and now his debts have been repaid. He should keep the basic necessities he requires; however, he should not have accumulated wealth.”
This was the viewpoint of Hazrat Umar (ra) that he ought to keep what is required and return the rest of the wealth. The matter was then presented before Hazrat Abu Bakr(ra). The degree of love which Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) had for the Holy Prophet (sa) did not allow him to bear that he should make a decision contrary to something for which the Holy Prophet (sa) had granted permission. Thus, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) said, “The Holy Prophet (sa) sent him and I shall not take anything back from him”; he sent him off, saying that he had permission to conduct business and use the profit from it, “unless he wishes to return it to me himself, as I will not take anything from him. He went upon the instructions of the Holy Prophet (sa) and accepted gifts and other things with his permission. Unless he offers it to me himself, I shall not ask him to.”
Hazrat Umar (ra) then went to Hazrat Mu‘az (ra). Hazrat Umar (ra) was very resolute when it came to certain matters of principle, so he went to Hazrat Mu‘az (ra) and mentioned this all to him. Hazrat Mu‘az (ra) replied, “The Holy Prophet (sa) sent me so that I may fulfil my requirements, so I shall not give anything of it.” It is also established through the various accounts and the biographies of his life that if Hazrat Mu‘az (ra) ever did pass through times of prosperity, they would only last for a few days, as he would regularly distribute his wealth among the people. We shall see in the accounts later on just how he would distribute it.
Hazrat Mu‘az (ra) thereafter went to Hazrat Umar (ra) and said, “I accept what you said.” Previously, he said to Hazrat Umar (ra) that he would not give anything, but after some time, he went to Hazrat Umar (ra) and said he accepted and consented to what he had asked and would act according to what he said. This must have been after some time because there is a mention of a dream.
Hazrat Mu‘az (ra) stated, “I saw in the dream that I am drowning in water and you [i.e. Hazrat Umar (ra)] rescued me.” Hazrat Mu‘az (ra) then went to Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra), related everything to him and vowed, “I shall not hide a single thing from you.” Meaning from where and how he received the money. Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) said, “I shall not take a thing from you. Yes, you have related all of this to me and accounted for everything, but I shall take nothing from you and I have given it all to you as a gift.” Hazrat Umar (ra), who was also present, said, “This is the best solution.”
(Ibn Abd al-Barr, al-Isti‘ab fi Ma‘rifat al-Ashab, Vol. 3, Bab Harf al-Meem, Mu‘az (ra) bin Jabal [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Jil, 1992], 461)
When he came to know that now the Khalifa of the time had made a decision even after Hazrat Mu‘az (ra) had offered all the money, Hazrat Umar (ra) accepted the decision with complete obedience. It did not matter to him as to why it was being taken; all that mattered was that after the demise of the Holy Prophet (sa), the decision should rest with the Khalifa of the time as to whether or not he could keep the wealth and spend out of it.
Prior to this, Hazrat Umar (ra) was insisting that the wealth should be taken from Hazrat Mu‘az (ra), but when Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) made his decision that he would not take it from him and that he would give it all back to him as a gift, Hazrat Umar (ra) did not insist on the matter and stated, “Indeed, this is the best solution in relation to this matter.”
Here, there is further clarification that God Almighty did not draw Hazrat Mu‘az’s (ra) attention to this matter until his needs had been fulfilled. Furthermore, after the demise of the Holy Prophet (sa) and when Hazrat Mu‘az’s (ra) needs were also fulfilled, he was granted prosperity and his debts were paid off, only then did God Almighty draw Hazrat Mu‘az’s attention to this matter through a dream in which he was told that he should now suffice on his own property. In other words, he should no longer accept gifts in the capacity of being the governor, nor spend out of the treasury. He did not remain there for long after this, but in any case, this was a brief explanation.
Hazrat Mu‘az (ra) relates that when the Holy Prophet (sa) sent him towards Yemen, he asked, “How will you deal with a matter when it is brought before you?” He answered, “I shall decide in accordance with the Book of Allah.” The Holy Prophet (sa) then asked, “And if you do not find the command in the Book of Allah?” to which Hazrat Mu‘az (ra) replied, “I shall decide in accordance with the practice [Sunnah] of Allah’s Messenger (sa).” The Holy Prophet (sa) then asked, “And if you do not find the instruction in the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah?” Hazrat Mu‘az (ra) answered, “I shall form my opinion according to my reasoning and shall not show any carelessness in this regard.” Hazrat Mu‘az (ra) states that when the Holy Prophet (sa) had listened to these three things, he placed his hand upon his chest and said, “All praise belongs to Allah, Who has enabled the ambassador of the Messenger (sa) of Allah to become a source of joy for him.”
(Musnad Ahmad bin Hanbal, Musnad Mu‘az (ra) bin Jabal, Vol. 7, p. 347, Hadith 22357, Alam ul-Kutub, Beirut, 1998)
Hazrat Mu‘az (ra) narrates that when the Holy Prophet (sa) sent him to Yemen he instructed him not to adopt a life of comfort and ease, because the servants of Allah do not live a life of worldly comforts.
(Musnad Ahmad bin Hanbal, Musnad Mu‘az (ra) bin Jabal, Vol. 7, p. 375, Hadith 22456, Alam ul-Kutub, Beirut, 1998)
This further clarifies that the Holy Prophet (sa) was aware that Hazrat Mu‘az (ra) was very generous and that he would spend the wealth from gifts and trade to help those in need. Even so, after giving permission for this, the Holy Prophet (sa) advised him not to live a life of comfort; instead, it was merely to fulfil his [basic] needs. So he admonished him to refrain from this.