`Amr bin Taghlib (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Some booty or prisoners of war were brought to Messenger of Allah (PBUH) and he distributed them, giving some men and neglecting others. Then, he was informed that those whom he had not given a thing were displeased. On this the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) praised Allah and glorified Him and said, "It is a fact that I give to one and overlook another. The one I ignore is dearer to me than the one I give. I give to those in whose hearts I perceive anxiety; others I leave with the richness and contentment that Allah has put in their hearts. One of them is `Amr bin Taghlib." Upon this `Amr bin Taghlib said, "By Allah I shall not accept a herd of red camels in exchange for what the Prophet said (about me)."[Al-Bukhari].
Commentary:
Whatever voluntary gifts or the spoils of war were brought to Messenger of Allah (PBUH), he divided them out to the Companions. In distribution, he weighed different considerations in his mind and the beneficiaries were categorized into three groups: the needy, the deserving cases and those whose hearts were to be won over. His primary concern, however, was to make donations to only those people about whom he had apprehensions that, if ignored, they would display impatience and weakness. In this way the reliable and contented type of men were intentionally ignored. The superiority of `Amr bin Taghlib (May Allah be pleased with him) is determined by the fact that the Prophet (PBUH) counted him among the latter, and he rightly took it as a great honour for him. Hence, we conclude that a ruler enjoys powers of expediency with regard to doling out from the public treasury. Yet, he is supposed to carry into practice what is implied by piety, integrity and trustworthiness. He must not be subordinate to self interests.
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