Volume 4, Book 53, Number 326:
Narrated Malik bin Aus:
While I was at home, the sun rose high and it got hot. Suddenly the messenger of ‘Umar bin Al-
Khattab came to me and said, “The chief of the believers has sent for you.” So, I went along with him
till I entered the place where ‘Umar was sitting on a bedstead made of date-palm leaves and covered
with no mattress, and he was leaning over a leather pillow. I greeted him and sat down. He said, “O
Malik! Some persons of your people who have families came to me and I have ordered that a gift
should be given to them, so take it and distribute it among them.” I said, “O chief of the believers! I
wish that you order someone else to do it.” He said, “O man! Take it.” While I was sitting there with
him, his doorman Yarfa’ came saying, “‘Uthman, ‘Abdur-Rahman bin ‘Auf, Az-Zubair and Sad bin
Abi Waqqas are asking your permission (to see you); may I admit them?” ‘Umar said, “Yes”, So they
were admitted and they came in, greeted him, and sat down. After a while Yarfa’ came again and
said, “May I admit ‘Ali and ‘Abbas?” ‘Umar said, “yes.” So, they were admitted and they came in and
greeted (him) and sat down. Then ‘Abbas said, “O chief of the believers! Judge between me and this
(i.e. ‘Ali).” They had a dispute regarding the property of Bani An-Nadir which Allah had given to His
Apostle as Fai. The group (i.e. ‘Uthman and his companions) said, “O chief of the believers! Judge
between them and relieve both of them front each other.” ‘Umar said, “Be patient! I beseech you by
Allah by Whose Permission the Heaven and the Earth exist, do you know that Allah’s Apostle said,
‘Our (i.e. prophets’) property will not be inherited, and whatever we leave, is Sadaqa (to be used for
charity),’ and Allah’s Apostle meant himself (by saying “we”)?” The group said, “He said so.” ‘Umar
then turned to ‘Ali and ‘Abbas and said, “I beseech you by Allah, do you know that Allah’s Apostle said
so?” They replied, ” He said so.” ‘Umar then said, “So, I will talk to you about this matter. Allah be –
stowed on His Apostle with a special favor of something of this Fai (booty) which he gave to nobody
else.” ‘Umar then recited the Holy Verses: “What Allah bestowed as (Fai) Booty on his Apostle
(Muhammad) from them — for this you made no expedition with either cavalry or camelry: But Al –
lah gives power to His Apostles over whomever He will ‘And Allah is able to do all things.” 9:6)
Volume 4 – 714 / 1700
SAHIH BUKHARI VOLUME 4 > BOOK 53: ONE-FIFTH OF BOOTY TO THE CAUSE OF ALLAH (KHUMUS)
‘Umar added “So this property was especially given to Allah’s Apostle, but, by Allah, neither did he
take possession of it and leave your, nor did he favor himself with it to your exclusion, but he gave it
to all of you and distributed it amongst you till this property remained out of it. Allah’s Apostle used
to spend the yearly expenses of his family out of this property and used to keep the rest of its revenue
to be spent on Allah ‘s Cause. Allah ‘s Apostle kept on doing this during all his lifetime. I ask you by
Allah do you know this?” They replies in the affirmative. ‘Umar then said to ‘Ali and ‘Abbas. “I ask you
by Allah, do you know this?” ‘Umar added, “When Allah had taken His Prophet unto Him, ‘Abu Bakr
said, ‘I am the successor of Allah’s Apostle so, Abu Bakr took over that property and managed it in the
same way as Allah’s Apostle used to do, and Allah knows that he was true, pious and rightly-guided,
and he was a follower of what was right. Then Allah took Abu Bakr unto Him and I became Abu
Bakr’s successor, and I kept that property in my possession for the first two years of my Caliphate,
managing it in the same way as Allah’s Apostle used to do and as Abu Bakr used to do, and Allah
knows that I have been true, pious, rightly guided, and a follower of what is right. Now you both (i.e.
‘Ah and ‘Abbas) came to talk to me, bearing the same claim and presenting the same case; you, ‘Ab –
bas, came to me asking for your share from your nephew’s property, and this man, i.e. ‘Ali, came to
me asking for his wife’s share from her father’s property. I told you both that Allah’s Apostle said,
‘Our (prophets’) properties are not to be inherited, but what we leave is Sadaqa (to be used for char –
ity).’ When I thought it right that I should hand over this property to you, I said to you, ‘I am ready to
hand over this property to you if you wish, on the condition that you would take Allah’s Pledge and
Convention that you would manage it in the same way as Allah’s Apostle used to, and as Abu Bakr
used to do, and as I have done since I was in charge of it.’ So, both of you said (to me), ‘Hand it over to
us,’ and on that condition I handed it over to you. So, I ask you by Allah, did I hand it over to them on
this condition?” The group aid, “Yes.” Then ‘Umar faced ‘Ali and Abbas saying, “I ask you by Allah, did
I hand it over to you on this condition?” They said, “Yes. ” He said, ” Do you want now to give a differ –
ent decision? By Allah, by Whose Leave both the Heaven and the Earth exist, I will never give any
decision other than that (I have already given). And if you are unable to manage it, then return it to
me, and I will do the job on your behalf.”