23/4. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1619d — Guardian of the Needy
Whoever Leaves Behind Wealth, It Is For His Heirs
Hadith About Debt, Needy Children, and Prophetic Guardianship
Sahih Muslim : 1619d
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1619d
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رَافِعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنْ هَمَّامِ بْنِ مُنَبِّهٍ، قَالَ هَذَا مَا حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَذَكَرَ أَحَادِيثَ مِنْهَا وَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " أَنَا أَوْلَى النَّاسِ بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فَأَيُّكُمْ مَا تَرَكَ دَيْنًا أَوْ ضَيْعَةً فَادْعُونِي فَأَنَا وَلِيُّهُ وَأَيُّكُمْ مَا تَرَكَ مَالاً فَلْيُؤْثَرْ بِمَالِهِ عَصَبَتُهُ مَنْ كَانَ " .
Hammam b. Munabbih Narrated from:
This is what Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) narrated to us from Allah's Messenger (may peace he upon him). And he narrated many ahadith, and one was this: Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him said: I am, according to the Book of Allah, the Exalted and Majestic, nearest to the believers of all the human beings. So whoever amongst you dies in debt or leaves behind destitute children, you should call me (for help) ), for I am his guardian. And who amongst you leaves property, his inheritor is entitled to get it, whoever he is.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1619dIn-book reference : Book 23, Hadith 21USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 11, Hadith 3947
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1619d
This hadith about debt and needy children is narrated by Hammam ibn Munabbih from Abu Huraira. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم says that, according to the Book of Allah, he is nearest to the believers among all people. He then says that if anyone dies leaving debt or destitute children, they should call him, because he is their guardian. If someone leaves property, then the inheritor is entitled to receive it. The explanation should stay with these points. The hadith does not remove the right of heirs, and it does not ignore the hardship of those left in need. It places debt, dependents, and property rights side by side in a balanced way.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم described himself as guardian for believers in debt or need.
- Destitute children left behind are mentioned with care.
- Property left by a person belongs to the inheritor.
- The narration balances support for the vulnerable with the rights of heirs.
