'I went and entered upon `Umar, his doorman, Yarfa came saying `Uthman, `Abdur-Rahman, Az-
Zubair and Sa`d are asking your permission (to see you). May I admit them? `Umar said, 'Yes.' So he
admitted them Then he came again and said, 'May I admit `Ali and `Abbas?' He said, 'Yes.' `Abbas
said, 'O, chief of the believers! Judge between me and this man (Ali ). `Umar said, 'I beseech you by
Allah by Whose permission both the heaven and the earth exist, do you know that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)
said, 'Our (the Apostles') property will not be inherited, and whatever we leave (after our death) is to
be spent in charity?' And by that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) meant himself.' The group said, '(No doubt), he said
so.' `Umar then faced `Ali and `Abbas and said, 'Do you both know that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said that?'
They replied, '(No doubt), he said so.' `Umar said, 'So let me talk to you about this matter. Allah
favored His Apostle with something of this Fai' (i.e. booty won by the Muslims at war without
fighting) which He did not give to anybody else;
Allah said:-- 'And what Allah gave to His Apostle ( Fai' Booty) .........to do all things....(59.6) And so
that property was only for Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) . Yet, by Allah, he neither gathered that property for
himself nor withheld it from you, but he gave its income to you, and distributed it among you till there
remained the present property out of which the Prophet (ﷺ) used to spend the yearly maintenance for his
family, and whatever used to remain, he used to spend it where Allah's property is spent (i.e. in charity
etc.). Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) followed that throughout his life.
Now I beseech you by Allah, do you know all that?' They said, 'Yes.' `Umar then said to `Ali and
`Abbas, 'I beseech you by Allah, do you know that?' Both of them said, 'Yes.' `Umar added, 'And
when the Prophet (ﷺ) died, Abu Bakr said, ' I am the successor of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ), and took charge of that
property and managed it in the same way as Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) did.
Then I took charge of this property for two years during which I managed it as Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and
Abu Bakr did. Then you both (`Ali and `Abbas) came to talk to me, bearing the same claim and
presenting the same case. (O `Abbas!) You came to me asking for your share from the property of
your nephew, and this man (Ali) came to me, asking for the share of h is wife from the property of her
father. I said, 'If you both wish, I will give that to you on that condition (i.e. that you would follow the
way of the Prophet (ﷺ) and Abu Bakr and as I (`Umar) have done in man aging it).' Now both of you seek
of me a verdict other than that? Lo! By Allah, by Whose permission both the heaven and the earth
exist, I will not give any verdict other than that till the Hour is established. If you are unable to
manage it, then return it to me, and I will be sufficient to manage it on your behalf.' "
Sahih al-Bukhari Book 85, Hadith 5
Malik related to me from Abd ar-Rahman ibn Abi Amra al-Ansari
that his mother had wanted to make a bequest, but she delayed until
morning and died. She had intended to set someone free, so Abd ar-
Rahman said, 'I said to al-Qasim ibn Muhammad, 'Will it help her if I
free a slave for her?' Al-Qasim replied, 'Sad ibn Ubada said to the
Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, 'My
mother died, will it help her if I set a slave free for her?' The
Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said
"Yes." "'
Muwatta Malik Book 38, Hadith 14