"Fatimah came to Abu Bakr and said: 'Who will inherit from you?' He said: 'My family and my son.' She said: 'So what about me? I do not get inheritance from my father?' So Abu Bakr said: 'I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: 'We are not inherited from' but I support those whom the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to support, and I spend upon those whom the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) spent upon."
[Abu 'Eisa said:] There are narrations on this topic from 'Umar, Talhah, Az-Zubair, 'Abdur-Rahman bin 'Awf, Sa'd and 'Aishah.
The Hadith of Abu Hurairah is Hasan Gharib from this route. It is only reported with a chain by Hammad bin Salamah and 'Abdul Wahhab bin 'Ata, from Muhammad bin 'Amr, from Abu Salamah, from Abu Hurairah.
I asked Muhammad about this Hadith and he said: "No one is known to have reported it from Muhammad bin 'Amr, from Abu Salamah, from Abu Hurairah except from Hammad bin Salamah. 'Abdul Wahhab bin 'Ata reported it from Muhammad bib 'Amr, from Abu Salamah, and from Abu Hurairah and it is similar to the narration of Hammad bin Salamah. And this Hadith has been reported through other routes from Abu Bakr As-Siddiq, from the Prophet (ﷺ).
Hadith Context & Significance
This narration from Jami' at-Tirmidhi addresses the crucial matter of prophetic inheritance, establishing that prophets leave behind spiritual legacy rather than material wealth. The exchange between Fatimah and Abu Bakr demonstrates the implementation of the Prophet's teaching that "We are not inherited from."
Abu Bakr's response reflects his strict adherence to the Prophet's Sunnah, showing his commitment to maintaining the prophetic tradition exactly as he heard it, without alteration or personal interpretation.
Legal Ruling on Prophetic Inheritance
Scholars unanimously agree that prophets do not leave material inheritance for their heirs. Whatever they leave is considered public property for the Muslim community. This ruling is based on multiple authentic narrations, including this hadith from The Book on Military Expeditions.
The wisdom behind this ruling is that prophets are sent as guides, not as accumulators of worldly wealth. Their legacy is the Shariah and guidance they leave for their ummah.
Abu Bakr's Exemplary Conduct
Abu Bakr's statement "I support those whom the Messenger of Allah used to support" demonstrates the proper approach to handling prophetic inheritance. He maintained the same beneficiaries and expenditures that the Prophet established during his lifetime.
This shows the companions' meticulous care in preserving the Prophet's Sunnah in both word and practice, ensuring no innovation occurred in religious matters.
Chain of Narration Analysis
At-Tirmidhi's commentary notes this narration is Hasan Gharib through this specific chain. The careful examination of narrators like Hammad bin Salamah and Abdul Wahhab bin Ata shows the scholarly methodology in verifying hadith authenticity.
The existence of multiple chains from various companions including Umar, Talhah, and Aishah strengthens the ruling's authenticity and shows the matter was well-established among the companions.