65/4.7. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4580 — Islamic Inheritance and Covenant Rights
"And to everyone, We have appointed heirs of that (property) left by parents and relatives. To those, also, with whom you have made a pledge (brotherhood), give them their due portion [by Wasiya (wills)]. Truly, Allah is Ever a Witness over all things." (V.4:33)
وَقَالَ مَعْمَرٌ {مَوَالِيَ} أَوْلِيَاءَ وَرَثَةً. {عَاقَدَتْ} هُوَ مَوْلَى الْيَمِينِ، وَهْوَ الْحَلِيفُ، وَالْمَوْلَى أَيْضًا ابْنُ الْعَمِّ. وَالْمَوْلَى الْمُنْعِمُ الْمُعْتِقُ. وَالْمَوْلَى الْمُعْتَقُ. وَالْمَوْلَى الْمَلِيكُ. وَالْمَوْلَى مَوْلًى فِي الدِّينِ.
Hadith About Islamic Inheritance and Covenant Duties
Sahih Bukhari : 4580
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4580
حَدَّثَنِي الصَّلْتُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أُسَامَةَ، عَنْ إِدْرِيسَ، عَنْ طَلْحَةَ بْنِ مُصَرِّفٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاس ٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ {وَلِكُلٍّ جَعَلْنَا مَوَالِيَ} قَالَ وَرَثَةً. {وَالَّذِينَ عَاقَدَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ} كَانَ الْمُهَاجِرُونَ لَمَّا قَدِمُوا الْمَدِينَةَ يَرِثُ الْمُهَاجِرُ الأَنْصَارِيَّ دُونَ ذَوِي رَحِمِهِ لِلأُخُوَّةِ الَّتِي آخَى النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بَيْنَهُمْ فَلَمَّا نَزَلَتْ {وَلِكُلٍّ جَعَلْنَا مَوَالِيَ} نُسِخَتْ، ثُمَّ قَالَ {وَالَّذِينَ عَاقَدَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ } مِنَ النَّصْرِ، وَالرِّفَادَةِ وَالنَّصِيحَةِ، وَقَدْ ذَهَبَ الْمِيرَاثُ وَيُوصِي لَهُ. سَمِعَ أَبُو أُسَامَةَ إِدْرِيسَ، وَسَمِعَ إِدْرِيسُ طَلْحَةَ.
Ibn 'Abbas Narrated from:
Regarding the Verse:"To everyone, We have appointed heirs." (4.33)'Mawali' means heirs. And regarding:-- "And those to whom your right hands have pledged." When the Emigrants came to Medina, an Emigrant used to be the heir of an Ansari with the exclusion of the latter's relatives, and that was because of the bond of brotherhood which the Prophet (ﷺ) had established between them (i.e. the Emigrants and the Ansar). So when the Verses:-- "To everyone We have appointed heirs." was revealed, (the inheritance through bond of brotherhood) was cancelled. Ibn `Abbas then said: "And those to whom your right hands have pledged." is concerned with the covenant of helping and advising each other. So allies are no longer to be the heir of each other, but they can bequeath each other some of their property by means of a will.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4580In-book reference : Book 65, Hadith 102USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 6, Book 60, Hadith 104
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4580
This Hadith explains an important point about Islamic inheritance. Ibn Abbas explains that “Mawali” in the verse means heirs. At one time, when the Emigrants came to Madinah, an Emigrant could inherit from an Ansari because of the brotherhood made by the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم between the Muhajirun and Ansar. The Hadith then says this inheritance through brotherhood was cancelled when the verse about appointed heirs was revealed. The covenant did not become useless, but its role changed. It became a bond of help, support, and sincere advice, not a path to automatic inheritance. The Hadith also mentions that a person may still give something through a will. The main lesson is that family heirs have their proper place, while friendship and alliance remain honored through care, loyalty, and good counsel.
What we learn from this hadith
- Islamic inheritance belongs to appointed heirs, not only to close allies or friends.
- The brotherhood between Muslims can include help, support, and sincere advice.
- A person may give to an ally through a will, as stated in the narration.
- Changes in ruling should be understood through the revealed text.
