Ibrāhīm al-Harbī narrated in his book Gifts (1), from Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with them both), that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Gifts to rulers are embezzlement.” (2)
In the two Sahīh collections (3), Abū Humayd al-Sā‘idī (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) appointed a man from the Azd, known as Ibn al-Lutbiyyah, to collect the alms. When he returned, he said, “This is for you, and this was given to me as a gift.” The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said, “What is the matter with a man whom we appoint to a duty with which Allah has entrusted us, and he says, ‘This is for you, and this was given to me as a gift’? Why did he not sit in his father’s or mother’s house and see whether he would receive any gifts? By Him in whose hand is my soul, no one takes anything from it without coming on the Day of Resurrection carrying it upon his neck—whether it is a camel bellowing, a cow lowing, or a sheep
(1) Yāqūt mentions the work in his biographical entry under the title *al-Hadāyā wa-l-Sunnah fīhā* (*Gifts and the Sunnah Concerning Them*), in *Mu‘jam al-Udabā’* (1/50). Al-Hāfiz also mentions it in *al-Mu‘jam al-Mufahras* (2/399) and quotes from it in *al-Fath*.
(2) Recorded by al-Tabarānī in *al-Awsat* (6898), with the wording: “A gift to the ruler is embezzlement.” Al-Haythamī said: “Its chain includes Yamān ibn Sa‘īd, who is weak.” See *al-Majma‘* (10/151).
It has a corroborating report from Abū Humayd al-Sā‘idī, recorded by Ahmad (23601), al-Bazzār (3723), and al-Bayhaqī (10/138). Al-Haythamī graded it weak in *al-Majma‘* (10/151), as did al-Hāfiz in *al-Talkhīs* (4/208).
A report from Abū Hurayrah was recorded by al-Tabarānī in *al-Awsat* (7848). Al-Haythamī said in *al-Majma‘* (10/151): “Its chain includes Humayd ibn Mu‘āwiyah al-Bāhilī, who is weak.” Al-Hāfiz said that it is even weaker than the report of Abū Humayd.
A report from Jābir was recorded by Ibn Abī Shaybah (5/168) and al-Tabarānī in *al-Awsat* (4965). Al-Tabarānī said: “No one narrated this hadith from ‘Atā’ except Layth; Qays alone transmitted it.” Al-Haythamī said: “Its chain of transmission is *hasan* (good).” See *al-Majma‘* (10/151).
(3) Recorded by al-Bukhārī (1500) and Muslim (1832).