1. Home
  2. Sunan an-Nasa'i
  3. The Book of Distribution of Al-Fay'
  4. Sunan an-Nasa'i 4141
أَخْبَرَنَا هَارُونُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْحَمَّالُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ عُمَرَ، عَنْ يُونُسَ بْنِ يَزِيدَ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ هُرْمُزَ، أَنَّ نَجْدَةَ الْحَرُورِيَّ، حِينَ خَرَجَ فِي فِتْنَةِ ابْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ أَرْسَلَ إِلَى ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ يَسْأَلُهُ عَنْ سَهْمِ ذِي الْقُرْبَى لِمَنْ تُرَاهُ قَالَ هُوَ لَنَا لِقُرْبَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَسَمَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لَهُمْ وَقَدْ كَانَ عُمَرُ عَرَضَ عَلَيْنَا شَيْئًا رَأَيْنَاهُ دُونَ حَقِّنَا فَأَبَيْنَا أَنْ نَقْبَلَهُ وَكَانَ الَّذِي عَرَضَ عَلَيْهِمْ أَنْ يُعِينَ نَاكِحَهُمْ وَيَقْضِيَ عَنْ غَارِمِهِمْ وَيُعْطِيَ فَقِيرَهُمْ وَأَبَى أَنْ يَزِيدَهُمْ عَلَى ذَلِكَ ‏.‏
Translation
It was narrated from 'Aishah that

Fatimah sent word to Abu Bakr asking for her inheritance from the Prophet, from his charity and what was left of the Khumus of Khaibar. Abu Bakar said: "The Messenger of Allah said: 'We are not inherited from."'

Comment

The Book of Distribution of Al-Fay'

Sunan an-Nasa'i - Hadith 4141

Narration Context

This incident occurred shortly after the Prophet's passing when Fatimah, his beloved daughter, sought inheritance from what remained of the Prophet's possessions, including charitable properties and the fifth share (Khumus) from the conquest of Khaibar.

Scholarly Commentary

Abu Bakr's response reflects the established Islamic principle that prophets leave no inheritance in worldly goods. Their possessions are considered public trust rather than private property to be inherited.

The phrase "We are not inherited from" indicates that whatever prophets leave behind becomes public property for the Muslim community, to be used for communal welfare according to Islamic guidelines.

This ruling prevents any confusion between prophetic status and ordinary human inheritance, maintaining the purity of the prophetic mission and ensuring community resources are properly distributed.

Legal Implications

This hadith establishes that prophets' possessions become public endowment (waqf) after their death, to be administered by the Muslim ruler for public benefit.

The ruling applies specifically to prophetic inheritance and does not affect general inheritance laws for other Muslims, which remain governed by detailed Quranic injunctions.