English Translation

Hadrat Abu Humaid as-Sa‘idi said that God’s messenger appointed a man of Azd called Ibn al-Lutbiya to collect the sadaqa and when he returned he said, “This is for you, and this was given me as a present.” So the Noble Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) delivered an address, and after praising and extolling God he said, "To proceed:I employ men of your number to deal with certain matters which God has entrusted to me, yet one of them comes and says, 'This is for you and this is a present which was given to me.’ Why did he not sit in his father’s or his mother’s house and see whether it would be given to him or not? By Him in whose hand my soul is, whoever takes any of it will inevitably bring it on the day of resurrection carrying it on his neck, be it a camel which rumbles, an ox which bellows, or a sheep which bleats.” Then raising his arms so that we could see the place where the hair grew under his armpits he said, "O God, have I given full information? O God, have I given full information?” (Bukhari and Muslim.) Khattabi said: The words "Why did he not sit in his father’s or his mother's house and see whether it would be given to him or not?” are a proof that every matter which, when it is adopted, leads to something forbidden is itself forbidden, and that note is taken of everyone who enters into covenants as to whether or not his decision made by himself is like his decision when he is associated with others. Thus it is quoted in Sharh as-sunna.