29/2. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 3601 — How an Islamic Waqf Works
Endowments: How The Endowment Is To Be Recorded, And Mentioning The Differences Reported From Ibn 'A
Islamic Waqf Hadith: Preserve the Asset and Share Its Benefits
Sunan an-Nasai : 3601
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3601
أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَزْهَرُ السَّمَّانُ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَوْنٍ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، أَنَّ عُمَرَ، أَصَابَ أَرْضًا بِخَيْبَرَ فَأَتَى النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَسْتَأْمِرُهُ فِي ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ " إِنْ شِئْتَ حَبَّسْتَ أَصْلَهَا وَتَصَدَّقْتَ بِهَا " . فَحَبَّسَ أَصْلَهَا أَنْ لاَ تُبَاعَ وَ لاَ تُوهَبَ وَلاَ تُورَثَ فَتَصَدَّقَ بِهَا عَلَى الْفُقَرَاءِ وَالْقُرْبَى وَالرِّقَابِ وَفِي الْمَسَاكِينِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ وَالضَّيْفِ لاَ جُنَاحَ عَلَى مَنْ وَلِيَهَا أَنْ يَأْكُلَ مِنْهَا بِالْمَعْرُوفِ أَوْ يُطْعِمَ صَدِيقَهُ غَيْرَ مُتَمَوِّلٍ فِيهِ .
Ibn 'Umar Narrated from:
'Umar acquired some land at Khaibar. He came to the Prophet and consulted him about that. He said: "If you wish, you may 'freeze' it and give it in charity." So he 'froze' it, stipulating that it should not be sold, given as a gift or inherited, and he gave it in charity to the poor, relatives, slaves, the needy, wayfarers and guests. There is no sin on the administrator if he eats from it on a reasonable basis or feeds a friend with no intention of becoming wealthy from it.
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3601In-book reference : Book 29, Hadith 8English translation : Vol. 4, Book 29, Hadith 3631
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3601
This hadith explains the basic form of an Islamic waqf through Umar's land at Khaibar. After Umar consulted the Prophet, he was told that he could preserve the land and give it in charity. Umar set clear conditions: the land itself could not be sold, gifted, or inherited. Its benefits were then assigned to the poor, relatives, slaves, needy people, travelers, and guests. The narration also explains how the property should be managed. Its administrator may eat from it on a reasonable basis or feed a friend, but should not treat the waqf as a way to become wealthy. The main teaching is that the original asset remains protected while its produce or income continues serving people.
What we learn from this hadith
- The original charitable property should remain protected under the stated conditions.
- The benefits of a waqf can be shared with several groups in need.
- The administrator should take only what is reasonable and avoid personal enrichment.
- Clear conditions help protect charitable wealth from being sold, gifted, or inherited.
