The Share of the Dhu al-Qurba (the Family of Rasulullah salla Llahu `alayhi wa sallam) and Their Right in Khums, During the Khilafah of Abu Bakr

The Wealth of fay’ and the Family of Nabi salla Llahu `alayhi wa sallam During the Reign of the Three Khulafa’
June 2, 2016
The Secured Monetary Rights of the Family of Rasulullah salla Llahu `alayhi wa sallam During the Khilafah of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq
June 2, 2016

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The Share of the Dhu al Qurba (the Family of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and Their Right in Khums, During the Caliphate of Abu Bakr

 

A share of the Khums being given to the Ahlul Bayt was mentioned in the above mentioned narrations along many others. I shall further elaborate in detail on this particular issue, i.e. the share of the Ahlul Bayt in Khums. I shall illustrate by means of narrations that they received their allotted share during the caliphate of both Abu Bakr and ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhuma and that ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu was the one entrusted with the duty of distributing it. ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu himself narrates the coming narration:

 

. [1] اجتمعت أنا والعباس وفاطمة وزيد بن حارثة عند النبي صلي الله عليه وسلم فقلت يا رسول الله إن رأيت أن توليني حقنا من هذا الخمس في كتاب الله عزوجل فاقسمه حياتك كيلا ينازعني أحد بعدك فافعل قال ففعل ذلك قال فقسمته حياة رسول الله صلي الله عليه وسلم ثم ولانيه أبوبكر حتي إذا كانت آخر سنة من سني عمر فإنه أتاه مال كثير فعزل حقنا ثم أرسل إلي فقلت بنا عنه العام غني و بالمسلمين إليه حاجة فاردده عليهم فرده عليهم

 

Similarly another narration very similar to this one is narrated by ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu. This narration is cited in Kitab al Kharaj of Imam Abu Yusuf radiya Llahu ‘anhu:

 

.[2] سمعت عليا رضي الله عنه يقول: قلت يا رسول الله إن رأيت أن توليني حقنا من الخمس فاقسمه في حياتك كي لا ينازعناه أحد بعدك فافعل قال ففعل قال فولانيه رسول الله صلي الله عليه وسلم فقسمته في حياته ثم ولانيه أبو بكر رضي الله عنه فقسمته في حياته حتي كان آخر سنة من سني عمر رضي الله عنه فاتاه مال كثير فعزل حقنا ثم أرسل إلي فقال خذه فاقسمه فقلت يا أمير المؤمنين بنا عنه العام غني و بالمسلمين إليه حاجة فرده عليهم

 

Summary of Both Narrations

‘Ali states that he, in the presence of ‘Abbas, Fatimah and Zaid ibn Harithah radiya Llahu ‘anhum said to Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam: “O Rasulullah, it would be ideal for you to entrust me with the responsibility of distributing our share of the Khums during your lifetime so that no one disputes with us over it after your demise.” Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam thus entrusted him with the duty. Hence, he assumed the responsibility of its distribution amongst the Banu Hashim whilst he was alive, during the caliphate of Abu Bakr radiya Llahu ‘anhu and for the entire duration of the caliphate of ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhu. Toward the end of Umar’s radiya Llahu ‘anhu reign, spoils of war poured into Madinah. At that time, as usual, he set aside their share of the Khums and sent it to ‘Ali with someone and ordered him to distribute it. ‘Ali says: “I told him, ‘We are now self-sufficient. The poor are more in need of it than us, therefore, distribute it amongst them.’ hence he ordered for it to be distributed amongst the poor.”

 

Deductions From the Narrations

  1. It is clearly understood from these reports that during the caliphate of Abu Bakr and ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhuma the Banu Hashim were receiving their share of the Khums on a regular bases. These khalifas had not expropriated their share nor had they stolen it or taken it for themselves.
  2. Another pertinent aspect that is understood is that ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu was entrusted with the duty of distributing the Khums. So accusations depicting Abu Bakr and ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhuma as usurpers can only be deemed baseless.
  3. These reports also imply that the underlying reason for them having a share in the Khums was their poverty as mentioned by the theologians. The evidence for this is the statement of ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu and his practice.[3]
  4. And lastly dealings of such a nature definitely denote the affinity and bond that they had. Such interactions are unknown to hostile relations.
 
 

NEXT⇒ The Wealth of fay’ and the Family of Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam During the Reign of the Three Khalifas


[1]  Sulaiman ibn Ash’ath: Sunan Abi Dawood 2/61, Kitab al Kharaj

[2]  Abu Yusuf: Kitab al Kharaj pg. 20, chapter regarding distributing booty

[3]  For further details one can refer to Hidayah, Kitab al Siyar: chapter regarding the manner of distribution; al Mabsut of al Sarakhsi: pg. 1009: Kitab al Siyar.

BACK⇒ Return to Table of contents

 

The Share of the Dhu al Qurba (the Family of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and Their Right in Khums, During the Caliphate of Abu Bakr

 

A share of the Khums being given to the Ahlul Bayt was mentioned in the above mentioned narrations along many others. I shall further elaborate in detail on this particular issue, i.e. the share of the Ahlul Bayt in Khums. I shall illustrate by means of narrations that they received their allotted share during the caliphate of both Abu Bakr and ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhuma and that ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu was the one entrusted with the duty of distributing it. ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu himself narrates the coming narration:

 

. [1] اجتمعت أنا والعباس وفاطمة وزيد بن حارثة عند النبي صلي الله عليه وسلم فقلت يا رسول الله إن رأيت أن توليني حقنا من هذا الخمس في كتاب الله عزوجل فاقسمه حياتك كيلا ينازعني أحد بعدك فافعل قال ففعل ذلك قال فقسمته حياة رسول الله صلي الله عليه وسلم ثم ولانيه أبوبكر حتي إذا كانت آخر سنة من سني عمر فإنه أتاه مال كثير فعزل حقنا ثم أرسل إلي فقلت بنا عنه العام غني و بالمسلمين إليه حاجة فاردده عليهم فرده عليهم

 

Similarly another narration very similar to this one is narrated by ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu. This narration is cited in Kitab al Kharaj of Imam Abu Yusuf radiya Llahu ‘anhu:

 

.[2] سمعت عليا رضي الله عنه يقول: قلت يا رسول الله إن رأيت أن توليني حقنا من الخمس فاقسمه في حياتك كي لا ينازعناه أحد بعدك فافعل قال ففعل قال فولانيه رسول الله صلي الله عليه وسلم فقسمته في حياته ثم ولانيه أبو بكر رضي الله عنه فقسمته في حياته حتي كان آخر سنة من سني عمر رضي الله عنه فاتاه مال كثير فعزل حقنا ثم أرسل إلي فقال خذه فاقسمه فقلت يا أمير المؤمنين بنا عنه العام غني و بالمسلمين إليه حاجة فرده عليهم

 

Summary of Both Narrations

‘Ali states that he, in the presence of ‘Abbas, Fatimah and Zaid ibn Harithah radiya Llahu ‘anhum said to Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam: “O Rasulullah, it would be ideal for you to entrust me with the responsibility of distributing our share of the Khums during your lifetime so that no one disputes with us over it after your demise.” Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam thus entrusted him with the duty. Hence, he assumed the responsibility of its distribution amongst the Banu Hashim whilst he was alive, during the caliphate of Abu Bakr radiya Llahu ‘anhu and for the entire duration of the caliphate of ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhu. Toward the end of Umar’s radiya Llahu ‘anhu reign, spoils of war poured into Madinah. At that time, as usual, he set aside their share of the Khums and sent it to ‘Ali with someone and ordered him to distribute it. ‘Ali says: “I told him, ‘We are now self-sufficient. The poor are more in need of it than us, therefore, distribute it amongst them.’ hence he ordered for it to be distributed amongst the poor.”

 

Deductions From the Narrations

  1. It is clearly understood from these reports that during the caliphate of Abu Bakr and ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhuma the Banu Hashim were receiving their share of the Khums on a regular bases. These khalifas had not expropriated their share nor had they stolen it or taken it for themselves.
  2. Another pertinent aspect that is understood is that ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu was entrusted with the duty of distributing the Khums. So accusations depicting Abu Bakr and ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhuma as usurpers can only be deemed baseless.
  3. These reports also imply that the underlying reason for them having a share in the Khums was their poverty as mentioned by the theologians. The evidence for this is the statement of ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu and his practice.[3]
  4. And lastly dealings of such a nature definitely denote the affinity and bond that they had. Such interactions are unknown to hostile relations.
 
 

NEXT⇒ The Wealth of fay’ and the Family of Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam During the Reign of the Three Khalifas


[1]  Sulaiman ibn Ash’ath: Sunan Abi Dawood 2/61, Kitab al Kharaj

[2]  Abu Yusuf: Kitab al Kharaj pg. 20, chapter regarding distributing booty

[3]  For further details one can refer to Hidayah, Kitab al Siyar: chapter regarding the manner of distribution; al Mabsut of al Sarakhsi: pg. 1009: Kitab al Siyar.