English translation
5358. Narrated Mālik bin Aus bin Al-Ḥadathān: Once I set out to visit 'Umar (bin Al-Khaṭṭāb). (While I was sitting there with him) his gatekeeper, Yarfā', came and said, "Uthmān, 'Abdur-Raḥmān (bin 'Auf), Az-Zubair and Sa'd (bin Abī Waqqāṣ) are seeking permission (to meet you).” ‘Umar said, “Yes.” So he admitted them and they entered, greeted, and sat down. After a short while Yarfā’ came again and said to ‘Umar, “Shall I admit ‘Ali and ‘Abbās?”” ‘Umar said, “Yes.” He admitted them and when they entered, they greeted and sat down. ‘Abbās said, “O Chief of the believers! Judge between me and this (‘Ali).” The group, ‘Uthmān and his companions said, “O Chief of the believers! Judge between them and relieve one from the other.” ‘Umar said, “Wait! I beseech you by Allāh, by Whose Permission both the heaven and the earth stand fast! Do you know that Allāh’s Messenger ﷺ said, ‘Our (Messenger’s) property will not be inherited and whatever we leave is Sadaqa (to be given in charity).’ And by that Allāh’s Messenger ﷺ meant himself?” The group said, “He did say 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 that?” They said, “Yes.” ‘Umar said, “Now, let me talk to you about this matter. Allāh favoured His Messenger ﷺ with something of this property (war booty) which He did not give to anybody else. And Allāh 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... Allāh is Able to do all things.’ (V.59 :6) “So this property was especially granted to Allāh’s Messenger ﷺ. But by Allāh he neither withheld it from you, nor did he keep it for himself and deprive you of it, but he gave it all to you and distributed it among you till only this remained out of it. And out of this property Allāh’s Messenger ﷺ used to provide his family with their yearly needs, and whatever remained, he would spend where Allāh's Property (the revenues of Zakāt) used to be spent. Allāh's Messenger ﷺ kept on acting like this throughout his lifetime. Now I beseech you by Allāh, do you know that?" They said, "Yes." Then 'Umar said to 'Alī and 'Abbās, "I beseech you by Allāh, do you both know that?" They said, "Yes." 'Umar added, "When Allāh had taken His Messenger ﷺ unto Him, Abū Bakr said, 'I am the successor of Allāh's Messenger ﷺ.' So he took charge of that property and did with it the same what Allāh's Messenger ﷺ used to do, and both of you knew all about it then." Then 'Umar turned towards 'Alī and 'Abbās and said, "You both claim that Abū Bakr was so-and-so! But Allāh knows that he was honest, sincere, pious and right (in that matter). Then Allāh 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, and I used to do the same with it as Allāh's Messenger ﷺ and Abū Bakr used to do. Later both of you ('Alī and 'Abbās) came to me with the same claim and the same problem. (O 'Abbās!) You came to me demanding your share from (the inheritance of) the son of your brother, and he ('Alī) came to me demanding his wife's share from (the inheritance of) her father. So I said to you, 'If you wish I will hand over this property to you, on condition that you both promise me before Allāh that you will manage it in the same way as Allāh's Messenger ﷺ and Abū Bakr did, and as I have done since the beginning of my rule; otherwise you should not speak to me about it.' So you both said, 'Hand over this property to us on this condition.' And on this condition I handed it over to you. I beseech you by Allāh, did I hand it over to them on that condition?" The group said, "Yes." Umar then faced 'Alī and 'Abbās and said, "I beseech you both by Allāh, did I hand it over to you both on that condition?" They both said, "Yes." Umar added, "Do you want me now to give a decision other than that? By Him with Whose Permission (Order) both the heaven and the earth stand fast, I will never give any decision other than that till the Hour is established! But if you are unable to manage it (that property), then return it to me and I will be sufficient for it on your behalf." (See H. 3094)