29/2. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 3599 — How Umar Established a Lasting Waqf
Endowments: How The Endowment Is To Be Recorded, And Mentioning The Differences Reported From Ibn 'A
How to Establish Waqf: Umar's Khaibar Land
Sunan an-Nasai : 3599
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3599
أَخْبَرَنَا حُمَيْدُ بْنُ مَسْعَدَةَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ زُرَيْعٍ - قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ عَوْنٍ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، أَنَّ عُمَرَ، قَالَ أَصَابَ عُمَرُ أَرْضًا بِخَيْبَرَ فَأَتَى النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ أَصَبْتُ أَرْضًا لَمْ أُصِبْ مَالاً قَطُّ أَنْفَسَ عِنْدِي فَكَيْفَ تَأْمُرُ بِهِ قَالَ " إِنْ شِئْتَ حَبَّسْتَ أَصْلَهَا وَتَصَدَّقْتَ بِهَا " . فَتَصَدَّقَ بِهَا - عَلَى أَنْ لاَ تُبَاعَ وَلاَ تُوهَبَ وَلاَ تُورَثَ - فِي الْفُقَرَاءِ وَالْقُرْبَى وَالرِّقَابِ وَفِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَالضَّيْفِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ لاَ جُنَاحَ عَلَى مَنْ وَلِيَهَا أَنْ يَأْكُلَ مِنْهَا بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيُطْعِمَ صَدِيقًا غَيْرَ مُتَمَوِّلٍ فِيهِ .
'Umar Narrated from:
I acquired some land at Khaibar. He came to the Prophet and said: I have acquired some land at Khaibar, and I have never been given any wealth that is more precious to me than it. What do you command me to do with it? He said: If you wish, you can 'freeze' it and give it in charity. So he gave it in charity on condition that it would not be sold, given away or inherited, to the poor, relatives, slaves, for the cause of Allah, guests and wayfarers. There is no sin on the one who administers it if he eats from it on a reasonable basis and feeds his friend, with no intention of becoming wealthy from it.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3599In-book reference : Book 29, Hadith 6English translation : Vol. 4, Book 29, Hadith 3629
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3599
This detailed hadith about waqf begins with Umar acquiring land at Khaibar that was more precious to him than any wealth he had received. He asked the Prophet what he should do. The Prophet told him that he could keep the original property fixed and give its benefit in charity. Umar then made it a charity that could not be sold, given away, or inherited. Its benefit was assigned to the poor, relatives, slaves, Allah's cause, guests, and wayfarers. The administrator could eat from it reasonably and feed a friend, but not use it to become wealthy. The report gives a clear picture of lasting charity: preserve the asset, direct its benefit to good causes, and manage it without personal enrichment.
What we learn from this hadith
- A waqf keeps the original asset while giving its benefit in charity.
- The land was not to be sold, gifted, or inherited.
- The administrator could use it reasonably without building personal wealth.
