Volume 4, 55-Wills and Testaments (Wasaayaa)
Hadith Number 2762
Chapter : 20 The witnesses in the foundation of an endowment or in giving in charity
Narrated Ibn `Abbas: That the mother of Sa`d bin Ubada the brother of Bani Saida died in Sa`d’s absence, so he came to the Prophet saying, “O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)! My mother died in my absence, will it benefit her if I give in charity on her behalf?” The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Yes.” Sa`d said, “I take you as my witness that I give my garden Al-Makhraf in charity on her behalf.”
Hadith Number 2763
Chapter : 21 The Statement of Allah Taa’la: “And if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with the orphan-girls…”
Narrated Az-Zuhri: Urwa bin Az-Zubair said that he asked `Aisha about the meaning of the Qur’anic Verse:– “And if you fear that you will not deal fairly with the orphan girls then marry (other) women of your choice.” (4.2-3) Aisha said, “It is about a female orphan under the guardianship of her guardian who is inclined towards her because of her beauty and wealth, and likes to marry her with a Mahr less than what is given to women of her standard. So they (i.e. guardians) were forbidden to marry the orphans unless they paid them a full appropriate Mahr (otherwise) they were ordered to marry other women instead of them. Later on the people asked Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) about it. So Allah revealed the following Verse:– “They ask your instruction (O Muhammad!) regarding women. Say: Allah instructs you regarding them…” (4.127) and in this Verse Allah indicated that if the orphan girl was beautiful and wealthy, her guardian would have the desire to marry her without giving her an appropriate Mahr equal to what her peers could get, but if she was undesirable for lack of beauty or wealth, then he would not marry her, but seek to marry some other woman instead of her. So, since he did not marry her when he had no inclination towards her, he had not the right to marry her when he had an interest in her, unless he treated her justly by giving her a full Mahr and securing all her rights.
Hadith Number 2764
Chapter : 22 How a guardian is to deal with an orphan’s wealth
Narrated Ibn `Umar: In the lifetime of Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) , `Umar gave in charity some of his property, a garden of date-palms called Thamgh. `Umar said, “O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)! I have some property which I prize highly and I want to give it in charity.” The Prophet; said, “Give it in charity (i.e. as an endowment) with its land and trees on the condition that the land and trees will neither be sold nor given as a present, nor bequeathed, but the fruits are to be spent in charity.” So `Umar gave it in charity, and it was for Allah’s Cause, the emancipation of slaves, for the poor, for guests, for travelers, and for kinsmen. The person acting as its administrator could eat from it reasonably and fairly, and could let a friend of his eat from it provided he had no intention of becoming wealthy by its means.
Hadith Number 2765
Narrated `Aisha: The following Verse:– “If a guardian is well-off, let him claim no remuneration (i.e. wages), but if he is poor, let him have for himself what is just and reasonable.” (4.6) was revealed in connection with the guardian of an orphan, and it means that if he is poor he can have for himself (from the orphan’s wealth) what is just and reasonable according to the orphan’s share of the inheritance.
Hadith Number 2766
Chapter : 23 The Statement of Allah Taa’la: “… those who unjustly eat up the property of orphans…”
Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Avoid the seven great destructive sins.” The people enquire, “O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)! What are they? “He said, “To join others in worship along with Allah, to practice sorcery, to kill the life which Allah has forbidden except for a just cause, (according to Islamic law), to eat up Riba (usury), to eat up an orphan’s wealth, to give back to the enemy and fleeing from the battlefield at the time of fighting, and to accuse, chaste women, who never even think of anything touching chastity and are good believers.
Hadith Number 2767
Chapter : 24 Allah’s Statement: “The best thing is to work honestly in their property…”
Nafi’ said: Ibn ‘Umar never refused to be appointed as guardian.” The most beloved thing to Ibn Sirin concerning an orphan’s wealth was that the orphan’s advisor and guardians would assemble to decide what is best for him. When Tawus was asked about something concerning an orphan’s affairs, he would recite: ‘…And Allah knows him who means mischief from him who means good…’ (V 2:220). ‘Ata said concerning some orphans, “The guardian is to provide for the young and the old orphans according to their needs from their shares.”
Hadith Number 2768
Chapter : 25 The employment of an orphan
Narrated Anas: When Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) came to Medina; he did not have any servant. Abu Talha (Anas’ step-father) took me to Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) and said, “O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)! Anas is a wise boy, so let him serve you.” So, I served him at home and on journeys. If I did anything, he never asked me why I did it, and if I refrained from doing anything, he never asked me why I refrained from doing it.
Hadith Number 2769
Chapter : 26 If somebody gives a piece of land as an endowment and does not mark its boundaries
Narrated Anas bin Malik: Abu Talha had the greatest wealth of date-palms amongst the Ansar in Medina, and he prized above all his wealth (his garden) Bairuha’, which was situated opposite the Mosque (of the Prophet (ﷺ) ). The Prophet used to enter It and drink from its fresh water. When the following Divine Verse came:– “By no means shall you attain piety until you spend of what you love,” (3.92) Abu Talha got up saying. “O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)! Allah says, ‘You will not attain piety until you spend of what you love,’ and I prize above al I my wealth, Bairuha’ which I want to give in charity for Allah’s Sake, hoping for its reward from Allah. So you can use it as Allah directs you.” On that the Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Bravo! It is a profitable (or perishable) property. (Ibn Maslama is not sure as to which word is right, i.e. profitable or perishable.) I have heard what you have said, and I recommend that you distribute this amongst your relatives.” On that Abu Talha said, “O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)! I will do (as you have suggested).” So, Abu Talha distributed that garden amongst his relatives and cousins.
Hadith Number 2770
Narrated Ibn `Abbas: A man said to Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) , “My mother died, will it benefit her if I give in charity on her behalf?” The Prophet (ﷺ) replied in the affirmative. The man said, “I have a garden and I make you a witness that I give it in charity on her behalf.”
Hadith Number 2771
Chapter : 27 A jointly-owned piece of land as an endowment
Narrated Anas: When the Prophet (ﷺ) ordered that the mosque be built, he said, “O Bani An-Najjar! Suggest to me a price for this garden of yours.” They replied, “By Allah! We will demand its price from none but Allah.”