'Umar b. al-Khattab (Allah be pleased with him) delivered a sermon on Friday and made a mention of Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) and he also made a mention of Abu Bakr (Allah be pleased with him) and then said: I do not leave behind me any problem more difficult than that of Kalala. I did not refer to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) more repeatedly than in case of the problem of Kalala, and he (the Holy Prophet) never showed more annoyance to me than in regard to this problem, so much so that he struck my chest with his fingers and said: 'Umar, does the verse revealed in summer season, at the end of Sura al-Nisa' not suffice you? Hadrat 'Umar (then) said: If I live I would give such verdict about (Kalala) that everyone would be able to decide whether he reads the Qur'an or he does not.
The Book of the Rules of Inheritance - Sahih Muslim 1617 a
This narration from 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (Allah be pleased with him) concerns the complex matter of Kalala - the deceased who leaves neither parents nor children as heirs. The term Kalala appears in Surah an-Nisa' verse 12 and verse 176, which address inheritance distribution for such cases.
Scholarly Commentary on Kalala
Kalala represents one of the most intricate matters in Islamic inheritance law (Fara'id). The Prophet's (ﷺ) response indicates this was a question requiring deep understanding of Quranic verses rather than additional revelation.
The verse referenced "revealed in summer season" is Surah an-Nisa' verse 176, which specifically addresses the inheritance of Kalala: "They request from you a ruling. Say: 'Allah gives you a ruling concerning one who has neither parents nor children...'"
'Umar's statement demonstrates the Companions' meticulous approach to understanding Quranic injunctions completely before issuing rulings, especially on complex matters affecting people's rightful shares of inheritance.
Legal Implications
This hadith establishes that all necessary guidance for Kalala cases exists within the Quran, particularly the comprehensive rulings in Surah an-Nisa'.
The Prophet's (ﷺ) emphasis on the sufficiency of Quranic guidance teaches us to seek solutions within revealed texts before looking elsewhere.
'Umar's intended verdict would have clarified the application of existing Quranic rules, making them accessible to all Muslims, whether deeply learned in Quranic studies or not.