38/1. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4135 — Justice in Distributing Khumus
The Book Of The Distribution Of Al-Fay'
Public Funds in Islam: Justice in Distributing Khumus
Sunan an-Nasai : 4135
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4135
أَخْبَرَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ يَحْيَى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مَحْبُوبٌ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ مُوسَى - قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا أَبُو إِسْحَاقَ، - وَهُوَ الْفَزَارِيُّ - عَنِ الأَوْزَاعِيِّ، قَالَ كَتَبَ عُمَرُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ إِلَى عُمَرَ بْنِ الْوَلِيدِ كِتَابًا فِيهِ وَقَسْمُ أَبِيكَ لَكَ الْخُمُسُ كُلُّهُ وَإِنَّمَا سَهْمُ أَبِيكَ كَسَهْمِ رَجُلٍ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَفِيهِ حَقُّ اللَّهِ وَحَقُّ الرَّسُولِ وَذِي الْقُرْبَى وَالْيَتَامَى وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ فَمَا أَكْثَرَ خُصَمَاءَ أَبِيكَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فَكَيْفَ يَنْجُو مَنْ كَثُرَتْ خُصَمَاؤُهُ وَإِظْهَارُكَ الْمَعَازِفَ وَالْمِزْمَارَ بِدْعَةٌ فِي الإِسْلاَمِ وَلَقَدْ هَمَمْتُ أَنْ أَبْعَثَ إِلَيْكَ مَنْ يَجُزُّ جُمَّتَكَ جُمَّةَ السُّوءِ .
Al-Auza'i Narrated from:
Umar bin 'Abdul-'Aziz wrote a letter to 'Umar bin Al-Walid in which he said: 'The share that your father gave to you was the entire Khumus,[1] but the share that your father is entitled to is the same as that of any man among the Muslims, on which is due the rights of Allah and His Messenger, and of relatives, orphans, the poor and wayfarers.How many will dispute with your father on the Day of Resurrection! How can he be saved who has so many disputants? And your openly allowing musical instruments and wind instruments is an innovation in Islam. I was thinking of sending someone to you who would cut off your evil long hair.'
[1] One-fifth of the spoils of war. See No. 4152.Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4135In-book reference : Book 38, Hadith 3English translation : Vol. 5, Book 38, Hadith 4140
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4135
This report about public funds in Islam contains a sharp letter from Umar bin Abdul-Aziz to Umar bin Al-Walid. He says that the recipient's father gave him the entire Khumus, although his father's share was only like that of any Muslim man. The letter names rights within the Khumus for Allah, His Messenger, relatives, orphans, the poor, and travelers. It then warns about the many people who may dispute with the father on the Day of Resurrection. The letter also calls the open use of musical and wind instruments an innovation in Islam and mentions cutting the recipient's long hair. The main financial teaching is that shared wealth must not be taken as a private grant.
What we learn from this hadith
- Do not treat the whole Khumus as private property.
- Remember the named rights of relatives, orphans, the poor, and travelers.
- Misuse of shared wealth can lead to claims on the Day of Resurrection.
- The letter also condemns the public practices specifically named in its text.
