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Hadīth explanation: Hakīm ibn Hizām (may Allah be pleased with him) went to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) to ask him for some money three times and the Prophet gave him every time. Then the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said to him that this money is sweet and green; meaning something loved and desired, something that people strive to attain, just as one likes ripe fruit that have an appetizing appearance and sweet taste. Then the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said that whoever takes it without greediness; meaning: whoever receives it with indifference to it, without begging constantly, and without gluttony for it, Allah will place blessing in this money and it will grow and increase even if it is a small amount, and the person will be blessed with contentment thereby attaining a rich self-sufficient soul, a relaxed heart and a happy life. On the contrary, whoever takes money with greediness; i.e. he aspires to it and desires it, Allah will not put blessing in it, he will never be satisfied nor content, and he will have an impoverished soul, even if he were given the treasures of the earth. Another Hadīth with a similar meaning was narrated by Muslim: The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "I am only a treasurer. So the one whom I give who is not greedy, he will be blessed in what he is given, and the one whom I give because of his constant begging and greediness, is like the one who eats and is never full." So if this is the case with one who takes money with greediness, then what about the one who constantly begs? His situation will be far worse. That is why the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said to ‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb: "Whatever you receive from this money (war booty) and you are not aspiring to take it nor asking for it, then take it, otherwise, do not take it." The giving hand is better than the receiving hand because it has honored itself and raised itself above the humiliation of asking. Hakīm swore by Allah who sent the Prophet with the truth that he would not ask anyone after him for anything. So when the Prophet passed away and Abu Bakr became the Caliph, he used to offer Hakīm money but Hakīm refused to take it. Then Abu Bakr died and ‘Umar became the Caliph and he summoned Hakīm to give him his share, but Hakīm again refused. So ‘Umar summoned the people to bear witness that Hakīm was offered his share from the Public Treasury of Muslims but he refused to accept it. ‘Umar did that so that Hakīm would not have an argument against him on the Day of Resurrection (that he deprived him of his right), and to free himself from liability to Hakīm before the people. Hakīm insisted on refraining from taking anything from ‘Umar until he died.
