Azami 4018

Imam Ahmad narrated it (17001) from Qutayba bin Saeed, who said, Ibn Lahia narrated to us, from Yazid bin Abu Habiba, from Abu Khayr, who said, and he mentioned it. There is well known criticism of Ibn Lahia because of the confusion that came over him later in life, but Qutayba bin Saeed narrated from him before that confusion set in.Tabarani narrated it in the Kabir (4493) through another route from Ibn Lahia, and added in it, meaning the tithe collector. Haythami used this addition to fault the hadith in Majma (3/88), for he does not distinguish between what was narrated from Ibn Lahia before his confusion and what was narrated from him after it. So take note of this, for knowing it is very important, since the ruling on a hadith can differ depending on whether it was narrated before or after the confusion set in.Ruwayfi bin Thabit is Ibn Sakan al-Ansari al-Madani, a companion who settled in Egypt. He was appointed governor of Barqa, and he died there in the year fifty-six (56 AH). Ruwayfi bin Thabit refused the position of zakat collector, out of scrupulousness. Otherwise, it has been reported concerning the merit of one who collects zakat with integrity that he is like a warrior in the path of Allah. That is why the finest and most senior of the companions were appointed to collect zakat in the time of the Prophet ﷺ and afterward.Maslama bin Mukhallad, with a doubled lam, al-Ansari al-Zurqi, was a young companion who settled in Egypt and served as its governor on behalf of Muawiya bin Abu Sufyan. Maslama died in the year sixty-two (62 AH).