Islam emphasizes the importance of calling government officials to account about what they have been appointed in charge of. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) warned of bad consequences for the ruler or governor [or other official] who takes that to which he has no right. This hadith is an abridgement of another hadith, which says that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) appointed a worker called Ibn al-Lutbiyyah. This worker came to Madinah after he returned from doing the task he was given to do. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) appointed someone to check on him and receive what he had collected [of zakah]. He said: O Messenger of Allah, this is for you, and this was given to me as a gift. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) stood up in the evening to address the people after the prayer, to teach them and warn them against such actions. He recited the Shahadah, affirming the oneness of Allah, and praised Allah as He deserves, then he said: “To proceed (Ammaba‘d).” This is a phrase that separates two topics when wanting to move from one topic to another. What is meant is: After what I have said of testifying to the oneness of Allah and praising Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) [I am now going to address the topic at hand]. I appoint some men among you and make them workers in charge of collecting zakah and war booty, then one of these workers comes and says: This is for you, and this was given to me as a gift! Why do you not sit in the house of your father and your mother, and wait and see whether you are given any gifts or not? In other words, if it were not for the fact that he was appointed to do this work, he would not have been given anything. This hadith indicates that it is prescribed to say, “Ammaba‘d (To proceed)” in the khutbah. It indicates that gifts to workers should be given to the bayt al-mal (treasury of the Muslim state). It indicates that it is prescribed to rebuke one who errs..