Commentary on Custodianship in The Book on Government

This narration from Sahih Muslim 1829 d establishes the fundamental Islamic principle of custodianship (amanah) in financial matters, particularly within family relationships. The classical scholars interpret this as establishing that a son managing his father's wealth acts as a trustee with legal and moral responsibility.

Legal Responsibility and Accountability

Islamic jurisprudence derived from this hadith that any person entrusted with another's property - even within family - bears full responsibility for its protection and proper management. The phrase "answerable for what is in his custody" indicates both worldly accountability and ultimate answerability before Allah on the Day of Judgment.

Scholars like Imam Nawawi emphasized that this custodianship requires exercising due diligence, avoiding negligence, and maintaining accurate records. The trustee must manage the wealth in accordance with the owner's wishes and Islamic principles, not according to personal discretion.

Broader Application Beyond Family

While the text specifically mentions father-son relationship, classical commentators extended this principle to all custodial relationships - including government officials handling public funds, business partners, and financial agents. This establishes the foundation for Islamic financial ethics and governance.

The conditional phrasing "I think that he said" noted by the narrator does not weaken the ruling, as scholars consider this a form of cautious transmission common among early hadith scholars, and the core meaning remains established and acted upon by the jurists.