English translation
6728. Narrated Mālik bin 'Aus: I went and entered upon 'Umar, his doorman, Yarfā came saying, "Uthmān, 'Abdur-Raḥmān, 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 'Alī and 'Abbās?" He said, "Yes." 'Abbās said, "O, chief of the believers! Judge between me and this (man 'Alī)." 'Umar said, "I beseech you by Allāh, by Whose Permission both the heaven and the earth exist, do you know that Allāh's Messenger ﷺ said, 'Our (the Messengers') property is not to be inherited, and whatever we leave (after our death) is Sadaqa (to be spent in charity)?" And by that Allāh's Messenger ﷺ meant himself." The group said, "(No doubt), he said so." 'Umar then faced 'Alī and 'Abbās and said, "Do you both know that Allāh's Messenger ﷺ said that? They replied, "(No doubt), he, said so." 'Umar said, "So let me talk to you about this matter. Allāh favoured His Messenger ﷺ with something of this Faī (i.e., booty won by the Muslims at war without fighting) which He did not give to anybody else. Allāh تعالى said: 'And what Allāh gave as (Faī) booty to His Messenger... (up to)... to do all thing.' (V.59:6) And so that property was only for Allāh's Messenger ﷺ. Yet, by Allāh, 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 Allāh's property is spent (i.e., in charity, etc.). Allāh's Messenger ﷺ followed that system throughout his life. Now I beseech you by Allāh, do you know all that?" They said, "Yes." Umar then said to 'Alī and 'Abbās, "I beseech you by Allāh, do you know that?" Both of them said, "Yes." Umar added, "And when the Prophet ﷺ died, Abū Bakr said, 'I am the successor of Allāh's Messenger ﷺ,' and took charge of that property and managed it in the same way as Allāh's Messenger ﷺ did. Then I took charge of this property for two years, during which I managed it as Allāh's Messenger ﷺ and Abū Bakr did. Then you both ('Alī and 'Abbās) came to talk to me, bearing the same claim and presenting the same case. (O 'Abbās!) You came to me asking for your share from the property of your nephew, and this man ('Alī) came to me, asking for the share of his 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 Abū Bakr and as I ('Umar) have done in managing it]'. Now both of you seek of me a verdict other than that? Lo! By Allāh, 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."