English translation
4033. Narrated Mālik bin Aus Al-Ḥadathān An-Naṣrī that once 'Umar bin Al-Khaṭṭāb رضي الله عنه called him and while he was sitting with him, his gatekeeper, Yarfā came and said, "Will you admit 'Uthmān, 'Abdur-Raḥmān bin 'Aūf, Az-Zubair and Sa'd (bin Abī Waqqāsh) who are waiting for your permission?" 'Umar said, "Yes, let them come in." After a while, Yarfā came again and said, "Will you admit 'Alī and 'Abbās who are asking your permission?" 'Umar said, "Yes." So, when the two entered, 'Abbās said, "O chief of the believers! Judge between me and this (i.e., 'Alī)." Both of them had a dispute regarding the property of Banī An-Naḏīr which Allāh had given to His Messenger ﷺ as Fai (i.e., booty gained without fighting), 'Ali and 'Abbās started reproaching each other. The people (i.e., 'Uthmān and his companions) said, "O chief of the believers! Give your verdict in their case and relieve each from the other." 'Umar said, "Wait, I beseech you, by Allāh, by Whose Permission both the heaven and the earth exist! Do you know that Allāh's Messenger ﷺ said, 'We, (Prophets) our properties are not to be inherited, and whatever we leave, is to be spent in charity,' and he said it about himself?" They (i.e., 'Uthmān and his companions) said, "(No doubt) he said so." 'Umar then turned towards 'Ali and 'Abbās and said, "I beseech you both, by Allāh! Do you know that Allāh's Messenger ﷺ said so?" They replied in the affirmative. He said, "Now I am talking to you about this matter. Allāh, the Glorified, favoured His Messenger ﷺ with something of this Fai which He did not give to anybody else. Allāh جَلَّ ذِكْرُهُ said: 'And what Allāh gave as booty (Fai) to His Messenger (Muhammad ﷺ) from them, for which you made no expedition with either cavalry or camelry... (up to)... Able to do all things.' (V.59:6) So this property was especially granted to Allāh's Messenger ﷺ. But by Allāh, the Prophet ﷺ neither took it all for himself only, nor deprived you of it, but he gave it to all of you and distributed it amongst you till only this remained out of it. And from this, Allāh's Messenger ﷺ used to spend the yearly maintenance for his family, and whatever used to remain, he used to spend it where Allāh's Property is spent (i.e., in charity). Allāh's Messenger ﷺ kept on acting like that during all his life. Then he died, and Abū Bakr said, 'I am the successor of Allāh's Messenger ﷺ.' So he (Abū Bakr) took charge of this property and disposed it in the same manner as Allāh's Messenger ﷺ used to do, and all of you (at that time) knew all about it." Then 'Umar turned towards 'Alī and 'Abbās and said, "You both remember that Abū Bakr disposed it in the way you ('Alī and 'Abbās) have both seen and Allāh knows that, in that matter, he was sincere, pious, rightly-guided and the follower of the right. Then Allāh عزَّ وجلَّ caused Abū Bakr to die and I said, 'I am the successor of Allāh's Messenger ﷺ and Abū Bakr.' So, I kept this property in my possession for the first two years of my rule (i.e., caliphate) and I used to dispose it in the same way as Allāh's Messenger ﷺ and Abū Bakr used to do; and Allāh knows that I have been sincere, pious, rightly-guided and the follower of the right (in this matter). Later on, both of you (i.e., 'Alī and 'Abbās) came to me, and the claim of you both was one and the same. O 'Abbās! You also came to me. So I told you both that Allāh's Messenger ﷺ said, 'Our property is not inherited, but whatever we leave is to be spent in charity.' Then when I thought that I should better hand over this property to you both. I said to you, 'If you wish I will hand over this property to you both on the condition that you will promise and pledge before Allāh that you will dispose it in the same way as Allāh's Messenger ﷺ and Abū Bakr did and as I have done since the beginning of my caliphate, or else you should not speak to me (about it).' So, both of you said to me, 'Hand it over to us on this condition.' And on this condition I handed it over to you. Do you want me now to give a decision other than that (decision)? By Allāh, with Whose Permission both the heaven and the earth exist, I will never give any decision other than that (decision) till the Hour is established. But if you are unable to manage it (i.e., that property), then return it to me, and I will manage on your behalf."