may Allah bless him and grant him peace:

“By Allah, I neither give to anyone nor withhold from anyone; I am only a distributor, allocating as I have been commanded.”

Al-Bukhārī narrated it, and a similar report is related from Abū Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him. Thus, the Messenger of the Lord of all worlds explained that withholding and giving were not matters of his own will and choice, as they are for an owner permitted to dispose of his property, or for kings who give to those they love and withhold from those they hate. Rather, he is Allah’s servant, distributing wealth at His command and allocating it wherever Allah Most High has commanded him.

Likewise, a man said to ʿUmar ibn al-Khattāb, “O Commander of the Faithful, why not allow yourself more generous expenditure from the funds of Allah Most High?”

ʿUmar replied, “Do you know what my position in relation to these people is like? It is like that of a group travelling together who pooled their money and entrusted it to one man to spend on their behalf. Would it be lawful for that man to favour himself over them with their money?”

On one occasion, a large sum from the one-fifth share was brought to ʿUmar ibn al-Khattāb, may Allah be pleased with him. He said, “People who have faithfully discharged their trust in this are truly trustworthy.”

One of those present said to him, “You have faithfully discharged your trust towards Allah Most High, so they have faithfully discharged their trust towards you. Had you indulged yourself, they would have done likewise.”

It should be understood that those in authority are like a marketplace: whatever sells well there is brought to it. This is what ʿUmar ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz, may Allah be pleased with him, said. If truthfulness, righteousness, justice and trustworthiness are in demand there, these will be brought there; but if falsehood and wickedness are in demand there