Hadith Text - Sunan Abi Dawud 2899

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: If anyone leaves a debt or a helpless family I shall be responsible-and sometimes the narrator said: Allah and His Apostle will be responsible-but if anyone leaves property, it goes to his heirs. I am the heirs of him who has none, paying blood-wit for him and inheriting from him; and a maternal uncle is the heir of him who has none, paying blood-wit for him and inheriting from him.

Commentary on the Prophetic Responsibility

This noble hadith establishes the Islamic principle that the state (represented by the Imam) bears responsibility for citizens who die leaving debts or dependent family members without means of support. This demonstrates the comprehensive nature of Islamic social welfare.

The Prophet's statement "I shall be responsible" refers to his capacity as the leader of the Muslim community. In contemporary terms, this responsibility falls upon the Islamic government or public treasury (Bayt al-Mal).

Inheritance Principles Clarified

The phrase "if anyone leaves property, it goes to his heirs" affirms the fundamental principle of Islamic inheritance law that wealth distribution follows divinely prescribed shares to specific heirs, not arbitrary bequests.

The declaration "I am the heirs of him who has none" establishes the state as the ultimate heir for those without legal heirs (dhawi al-arham). This prevents wealth from becoming ownerless and ensures its proper utilization for public benefit.

Significance of Maternal Uncle

The specific mention of the maternal uncle (khāl) as inheriting when there are no direct heirs is significant. Scholars explain this refers to cases where there are no Qur'anic heirs (dhawi al-furūd) or agnatic heirs (asabah).

This ruling gives precedence to maternal relatives over more distant paternal relatives in certain circumstances, reflecting the comprehensive nature of Islamic inheritance that considers both paternal and maternal kinship ties.

Legal Implications

The hadith establishes two important legal principles: First, the state inherits from those without heirs. Second, the state assumes responsibility for blood money (diyah) payments for unclaimed crimes, maintaining social order and justice.

This comprehensive approach ensures no Muslim dies without their affairs being properly settled, whether financial obligations or inheritance matters, reflecting the perfection of Islamic law in addressing all human circumstances.