REPUBLICA.CO.ID, MEDINA -- The prophets were sent by Allah SWT to earth with skills and knowledge above ordinary human beings. With it, they are able to fulfill life in the world. It was this way that made them independent and free from the intervention of their people.
This is evidenced by the many verses of the Quran that state that the Prophets did not need the property of the community in which he lived in the interests of his preaching. We can see how Noah spoke to his people. “And O my people! I did not ask the people for property (in return) for my call. My reward is only from God.” (QS Skin: 29).
Many prophets had livelihoods. Like ordinary people, they work hard. This proves that the prophets did not preach in order to obtain wages and wealth from their people. Society will not respect people whose lives depend on their wages and supper.
While still living in heaven, the Prophet Adam was endowed with skills and science. And Allah fills it with fruit. A hadith tells of the life of Adam. “When God took Adam out of heaven, he filled him with the fruits of heaven and taught him the art of making all things. Thus, your fruits are the fruits of heaven. It's just that this one changed its taste whereas that one didn't.” (transmitted by al-Hakim in al-Mustadrak, 2/592).
We also recall the story of the Prophet Noah, who built ships with his zeal. According to Sayyidah Aishah, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) lived with his people for 1,000 years or less 50 years. During that time, he called them to God. Until the end of his time, he planted a tree and grew it until he cut it down and began to build ships. They made fun of him as he said: “He made a ship on land, and then how did it go?” Other prophets are actually mentioned in the Quran and hadith as having the skills and knowledge to earn a living.
We know that Zechariah was a carpenter and David was a blacksmith. We also know the Prophet Idris as an expert in making clothes while the Prophet Joseph was an expert in economics and government. So was the Prophet Shuaib, a noble merchant whom God commanded to call upon his people to be fair in the measure and scales when trading.
The glory of these prophets leads some scholars to argue that it is impossible that the Prophet was poor. This opinion was supported by Ibn Baththal in his Sharh al-Bukhan. “The Messenger of Allah does not eat from the zakat because the one who eats from the zakat is bad. Accepting zakat is a despicable position. But the prophets were freed from such degrading and lowly conditions.”
While we also know that zakat should not be given to rich people. Allah (swt) revealed to the Prophet Muhammad that if He finds him in a state of suffering, then Allah will provide for his needs. Therefore, he is not entitled to zakat.
In another verse, Allah says, “Say (Muhammad): 'I ask you nothing in return for my call except compassion in error. '” (QS Asy-Syura: 23). That is the real proof that the Messenger of Allah does not accept zakat. If the Prophet accepted it and we were able to remove it from them, it would open a gap for people to say, The Prophet's proclamation is only for treasure.
The Prophet was only instructed to collect zakat un to be distributed to the poor and poor. This is done so that they realize that the Prophet's proclamation is for the sake of our own design without any compensation from them. “The hand above is better than the hand below.” (transmitted by Bukhari). The Messenger of Allah said that this was to be free from disgrace, to the lowly, to submission, and to need someone other than Allah.
Sheikh Mohammed al Ghazali once said that a large number of Muslims believed that the bearers of the treatise prioritized the poor over the rich, and called for the minimization of wealth. With this whiny philosophy, they spread poverty among a large number of Muslims for several centuries. As a result, they have rendered this people incapable of managing only the keys to the deposits of wealth on earth.”
In fact, isn't the zakat commandment, which is part of the framework of Islam and often coincides with the commandment of prayer in the Koran, in need of treasure? Similarly, Hajj, which is a physical worship within the framework of Islam, also requires a lot of expenses. Therefore — instead of being poor — the Messenger of Allah jus tru shows us that he remains a millionaire despite his simple life.