30/1. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 3612 — Your Wealth Is What You Send Ahead
It Is Disliked To Delay Making A Will
True Wealth in Islam: What You Send Ahead
Sunan an-Nasai : 3612
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3612
أَخْبَرَنَا هَنَّادُ بْنُ السَّرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ التَّيْمِيِّ، عَنِ الْحَارِثِ بْنِ سُوَيْدٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " أَيُّكُمْ مَالُ وَارِثِهِ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ مَالِهِ ". قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا مِنَّا مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلاَّ مَالُهُ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ مَالِ وَارِثِهِ. قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " اعْلَمُوا أَنَّهُ لَيْسَ مِنْكُمْ مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلاَّ مَالُ وَارِثِهِ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ مَالِهِ مَالُكَ مَا قَدَّمْتَ وَمَالُ وَارِثِكَ مَا أَخَّرْتَ ".
`Abdullah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah said: 'For whom among you is the wealth of his heirs dearer to him than his own wealth?' They said: 'O Messenger of Allah, there is no one among us for whom his own wealth is not dearer to him than the wealth of his heirs.' The Messenger of Allah said: 'Know that there is no one among you for whom the wealth of his heirs is not dearer than his own wealth. Your wealth is that which you have sent on ahead, and the wealth of your heirs is that which you have kept.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3612In-book reference : Book 30, Hadith 2English translation : Vol. 4, Book 30, Hadith 3642
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3612
This hadith changes the way a person may think about personal wealth. The Prophet asked the Companions whether anyone loved an heir's wealth more than his own. They replied that each person naturally loved his own wealth more. The Prophet then explained that what a person sends ahead is truly that person's wealth, while what is kept behind becomes the wealth of the heirs. In the wording of the hadith, sending wealth ahead refers to using it before death rather than merely holding it until others inherit it. The message is not that inherited property has no value. It is a reminder that retained wealth eventually leaves its owner, while what has already been put forward is counted as the person's own contribution.
What we learn from this hadith
- Wealth kept until death eventually becomes the property of the heirs.
- What a person sends ahead is described as that person's true wealth.
- Possession during life does not mean wealth will remain with its owner.
- The hadith encourages thoughtful use of wealth before it passes to others.
