29/2. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 3600 — Waqf and Lasting Charity
Endowments: How The Endowment Is To Be Recorded, And Mentioning The Differences Reported From Ibn 'A
Waqf in Islam: Preserving Wealth for Lasting Charity
Sunan an-Nasai : 3600
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3600
أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ مَسْعُودٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا بِشْرٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَوْنٍ، قَالَ وَأَنْبَأَنَا حُمَيْدُ بْنُ مَسْعَدَةَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا بِشْرٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ عَوْنٍ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ أَصَابَ عُمَرُ أَرْضًا بِخَيْبَرَ فَأَتَى النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَاسْتَأْمَرَهُ فِيهَا فَقَالَ إِنِّي أَصَبْتُ أَرْضًا كَثِيرًا لَمْ أُصِبْ مَالاً قَطُّ أَنْفَسَ عِنْدِي مِنْهُ فَمَا تَأْمُرُ فِيهَا قَالَ " إِنْ شِئْتَ حَبَّسْتَ أَصْلَهَا وَتَصَدَّقْتَ بِهَا " . فَتَصَدَّقَ بِهَا - عَلَى أَنَّهُ لاَ تُبَاعُ وَلاَ تُوهَبُ - فَتَصَدَّقَ بِهَا فِي الْفُقَرَاءِ وَالْقُرْبَى وَفِي الرِّقَابِ وَفِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ وَالضَّيْفِ لاَ جُنَاحَ - يَعْنِي - عَلَى مَنْ وَلِيَهَا أَنْ يَأْكُلَ أَوْ يُطْعِمَ صَدِيقًا غَيْرَ مُتَمَوِّلٍ اللَّفْظُ لإِسْمَاعِيلَ .
Ibn 'Umar Narrated from:
Umar acquired some land at Khaibar. He came to the Prophet and consulted him about it. He said: 'I have acquired a great deal of land, and I have never acquired 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 may freeze it and give it in charity.' So he gave it in charity on condition that it would not be sold or given away, and he gave it in charity to the poor, relatives, to emancipate slaves, for the cause of Allah, for wayfarers and guests. There is no sin -on the administrator- if he eats (from it) or feeds a friend, with no intention of becoming wealthy from it.'"These are the wordings of Isma'il.
[1] That is, one of the two from whom the author heard this narration.Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3600In-book reference : Book 29, Hadith 7English translation : Vol. 4, Book 29, Hadith 3630
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3600
This hadith gives a clear example of waqf in Islam. Umar acquired valuable land at Khaibar and asked the Prophet what he should do with it. The Prophet advised him to preserve the original property and give its benefits in charity. Umar therefore made sure that the land would not be sold or given away. Its benefit was directed to the poor, relatives, the freeing of slaves, the cause of Allah, travelers, and guests. According to Islamic scholars, this type of preserved charitable property is called a waqf or Islamic endowment. The hadith also allows the administrator to eat from it reasonably or feed a friend, as long as the administrator does not use it to build personal wealth.
What we learn from this hadith
- A valuable asset may be preserved while its ongoing benefits are given in charity.
- Charitable support can include the poor, relatives, travelers, guests, and other named causes.
- A charity administrator may use a reasonable amount without seeking personal wealth.
- Seeking guidance before giving away major wealth can lead to a careful charitable plan.
