Public Resources
Total Hadiths 6
Prophetic Rulings and Hadiths on Public Resources
These prophetic traditions outline the foundational Islamic principles regarding the sharing of essential public resources. According to these narrations, Muslims hold a common share in three fundamental community needs: grass for livestock, water, and fire. The Prophet placed an extraordinarily high emphasis on the open distribution of these items, explicitly stating that it is unlawful to withhold crucial necessities like water and salt from others. In fact, a severe warning is given regarding anyone who has excess water yet prevents a traveling stranger from utilizing it, noting that Allah will neither speak to nor purify such individuals on the Day of Judgement. These teachings demonstrate that according to Islamic scholars and the textual traditions, maintaining community access to shared resources and acting with basic goodwill are vital components of social justice and faith.
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْجَعْدِ اللُّؤْلُؤِيُّ، أَخْبَرَنَا حَرِيزُ بْنُ عُثْمَانَ، عَنْ حَبَّانَ بْنِ زَيْدٍ الشَّرْعَبِيِّ، عَنْ رَجُلٍ، مِنْ قَرْنٍ ح وَحَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا عِيسَى بْنُ يُونُسَ، حَدَّثَنَا حَرِيزُ بْنُ عُثْمَانَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو خِدَاشٍ، - وَهَذَا لَفْظُ عَلِيٍّ - عَنْ رَجُلٍ، مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ غَزَوْتُ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ثَلاَثًا أَسْمَعُهُ يَقُولُ " الْمُسْلِمُونَ شُرَكَاءُ فِي ثَلاَثٍ فِي الْكَلإِ وَالْمَاءِ وَالنَّارِ " .
Narrated A man: A man from the immigrants of the Companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) said: I participated in battle three times along with the Prophet (ﷺ). I heard him say: Muslims have common share in three (things). grass, water and fire.
[1] That is, one of the two Shaiikhs that Abū Dāwūd heard the narration from.Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 3477In-book reference : Book 24, Hadith 62English translation : Book 23, Hadith 3470
حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لاَ يُمْنَعُ فَضْلُ الْمَاءِ لِيُمْنَعَ بِهِ الْكَلأُ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as saying: Excess water should not be withheld so as to prevent (cattle) by it from grass.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 3473In-book reference : Book 24, Hadith 58English translation : Book 23, Hadith 3466
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " ثَلاَثَةٌ لاَ يُكَلِّمُهُمُ اللَّهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ رَجُلٌ مَنَعَ ابْنَ السَّبِيلِ فَضْلَ مَاءٍ عِنْدَهُ وَرَجُلٌ حَلَفَ عَلَى سِلْعَةٍ بَعْدَ الْعَصْرِ - يَعْنِي كَاذِبًا - وَرَجُلٌ بَايَعَ إِمَامًا فَإِنْ أَعْطَاهُ وَفَى لَهُ وَإِنْ لَمْ يُعْطِهِ لَمْ يَفِ لَهُ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as saying: There are three people who Allah will not address on the Day of Judgement: a man who prevents traveller from the excess water which he has with him; and a man who swears for the goods (for sale) after the afternoon prayer, that is, (he swears) falsely; and a man who takes the oath of allegiance to a ruler (imam); if he gives him (something), he fulfills (the oath of allegiance) to him, if he does not give him (anything), he does not fulfill it.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 3474In-book reference : Book 24, Hadith 59English translation : Book 23, Hadith 3467
حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، بِإِسْنَادِهِ وَمَعْنَاهُ قَالَ " وَلاَ يُزَكِّيهِمْ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ " . وَقَالَ فِي السِّلْعَةِ " بِاللَّهِ لَقَدْ أُعْطِيَ بِهَا كَذَا وَكَذَا فَصَدَّقَهُ الآخَرُ فَأَخَذَهَا " .
Al-A`mash Narrated from:
The tradition mentioned above has also been related by al-'Amash to the same effect through a different chain of narrators. This version adds: "He used: 'Not purify them; grievously will be their penalty.'" He said about (selling) the goods: I swear by Allah, I was given (the price) so and so for it. The other man considered it to be correct and bought it.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 3475In-book reference : Book 24, Hadith 60English translation : Book 23, Hadith 3468
حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُعَاذٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا كَهْمَسٌ، عَنْ سَيَّارِ بْنِ مَنْظُورٍ، - رَجُلٍ مِنْ بَنِي فَزَارَةَ - عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنِ امْرَأَةٍ، يُقَالُ لَهَا بُهَيْسَةُ عَنْ أَبِيهَا، قَالَتِ اسْتَأْذَنَ أَبِي النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَدَخَلَ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ قَمِيصِهِ فَجَعَلَ يُقَبِّلُ وَيَلْتَزِمُ ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ مَا الشَّىْءُ الَّذِي لاَ يَحِلُّ مَنْعُهُ قَالَ " الْمَاءُ " . قَالَ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ مَا الشَّىْءُ الَّذِي لاَ يَحِلُّ مَنْعُهُ قَالَ " الْمِلْحُ " . قَالَ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ مَا الشَّىْءُ الَّذِي لاَ يَحِلُّ مَنْعُهُ قَالَ " أَنْ تَفْعَلَ الْخَيْرَ خَيْرٌ لَكَ " .
Buhaisah Narrated from:
My father asked the Prophet (ﷺ) for permission (to kiss his body). (When he was given permission), lifting his shirt he approached his body, and began to kiss and stick to him. He then asked: Prophet of Allah, what is the thing withholding of which is not lawful ? He replied: Water. He asked: Prophet of Allah, what is the thing withholding of which is not lawful ? He replied: Salt. He again asked: Prophet of Allah, what is the thing withholding of which is not lawful ? He said: That you do a good work is better for you.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 3476In-book reference : Book 24, Hadith 61English translation : Book 23, Hadith 3469
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ النُّفَيْلِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا دَاوُدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الْعَطَّارُ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ دِينَارٍ، عَنْ أَبِي الْمِنْهَالِ، عَنْ إِيَاسِ بْنِ عَبْدٍ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَهَى عَنْ بَيْعِ فَضْلِ الْمَاءِ .
Iyas ibn Abd Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade the sale of excess water.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 3478In-book reference : Book 24, Hadith 63English translation : Book 23, Hadith 3471
