Abdullah bin As-Sa'di narrated that he came to 'Umar bin Al-Khattab during his Caliphate and 'Umar said to him:

"I heard that you do some jobs for the people but when payment is given to you, you refuse it." I said: "(that is so)." 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, said: "Why do you do that? I said: "I have horses and slaves and am well off, and I wanted my work to be an act of charity toward the Muslims." 'Umar said to him: "Do not do that. I used to want the same thing as you. The Messenger of Allah used to give me payment and I would say, 'Give it to someone who is more in need of it that I am.' But the Messenger of Allah said: "Take it and keep it or give it in charity. Whatever comes to you of this wealth when you are not hoping for it and not asking for it, take it, and whatever does not, then do not wish for it. "'

أَخْبَرَنَا كَثِيرُ بْنُ عُبَيْدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، عَنِ الزُّبَيْدِيِّ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنِ السَّائِبِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ، أَنَّ حُوَيْطِبَ بْنَ عَبْدِ الْعُزَّى، أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ السَّعْدِيِّ أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّهُ، قَدِمَ عَلَى عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ فِي خِلاَفَتِهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ عُمَرُ أَلَمْ أُحَدَّثْ أَنَّكَ تَلِي مِنْ أَعْمَالِ النَّاسِ أَعْمَالاً فَإِذَا أُعْطِيتَ الْعُمَالَةَ رَدَدْتَهَا فَقُلْتُ بَلَى . فَقَالَ عُمَرُ رضى الله عنه فَمَا تُرِيدُ إِلَى ذَلِكَ فَقُلْتُ لِي أَفْرَاسٌ وَأَعْبُدٌ وَأَنَا بِخَيْرٍ وَأُرِيدُ أَنْ يَكُونَ عَمَلِي صَدَقَةً عَلَى الْمُسْلِمِينَ . فَقَالَ لَهُ عُمَرُ فَلاَ تَفْعَلْ فَإِنِّي كُنْتُ أَرَدْتُ مِثْلَ الَّذِي أَرَدْتَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُعْطِينِي الْعَطَاءَ فَأَقُولُ أَعْطِهِ أَفْقَرَ إِلَيْهِ مِنِّي . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ " خُذْهُ فَتَمَوَّلْهُ أَوْ تَصَدَّقْ بِهِ مَا جَاءَكَ مِنْ هَذَا الْمَالِ وَأَنْتَ غَيْرُ مُشْرِفٍ وَلاَ سَائِلٍ فَخُذْهُ وَمَا لاَ فَلاَ تُتْبِعْهُ نَفْسَكَ " .