33/5. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1829d — Custodian of Family Wealth
The virtue of a just ruler and the punishment of a tyrant; Encouragement to treat those under one's authority with kindness and the prohibition against causing them hardship
Custodian of Wealth: A Hadith on Trust and Accountability
Sahih Muslim : 1829d
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1829d
وَحَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، وَيَحْيَى بْنُ أَيُّوبَ، وَقُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، وَابْنُ، حُجْرٍ كُلُّهُمْ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ دِينَارٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ح. وَحَدَّثَنِي حَرْمَلَةُ بْنُ يَحْيَى، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي يُونُسُ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ سَالِمِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ . بِمَعْنَى حَدِيثِ نَافِعٍ عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ وَزَادَ فِي حَدِيثِ الزُّهْرِيِّ قَالَ وَحَسِبْتُ أَنَّهُ قَدْ قَالَ " الرَّجُلُ رَاعٍ فِي مَالِ أَبِيهِ وَمَسْئُولٌ عَنْ رَعِيَّتِهِ " .
This hadith has been transmitted on the authority of Ibn 'Umar, but there is (a slight change of wording) in the hadith transmitted through Zuhri that he said: " I think that he (the narrator) said: The man is a custodian of the wealth of his father, and he would be answerable for what is in his custody."
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1829dIn-book reference : Book 33, Hadith 26USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 20, Hadith 4498
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1829d
This Hadith carries the same meaning as the well-known report from Ibn Umar about every person being a shepherd, but it also notes a slight wording change through Zuhri. The wording says that a man is a custodian of the wealth of his father and will be answerable for what is in his custody. The core topic is amanah, or trust. The Hadith about responsibility does not only speak about public leadership. It also reaches private life, family property, and the things placed in a person’s care. The message is practical: when something is entrusted to you, it should not be treated as if it has no owner or no account.
What we learn from this hadith
- A person may be answerable for wealth kept under his care.
- Family property is also a trust, not something to misuse.
- Slight wording differences should be noted carefully.
- The broader meaning is accountability for what one is given custody over.
