15/36. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 1375 — Umar's Waqf at Khaibar
What Has Been Related About A Waqf
Hadith About Waqf and Continuing Charity
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 1375
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 1375
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ حُجْرٍ، أَنْبَأَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَوْنٍ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ أَصَابَ عُمَرُ أَرْضًا بِخَيْبَرَ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَصَبْتُ مَالاً بِخَيْبَرَ لَمْ أُصِبْ مَالاً قَطُّ أَنْفَسَ عِنْدِي مِنْهُ فَمَا تَأْمُرُنِي قَالَ " إِنْ شِئْتَ حَبَسْتَ أَصْلَهَا وَتَصَدَّقْتَ بِهَا " . فَتَصَدَّقَ بِهَا عُمَرُ أَنَّهَا لاَ يُبَاعُ أَصْلُهَا وَلاَ يُوهَبُ وَلاَ يُورَثُ تَصَدَّقَ بِهَا فِي الْفُقَرَاءِ وَالْقُرْبَى وَفِي الرِّقَابِ وَفِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ وَالضَّيْفِ لاَ جُنَاحَ عَلَى مَنْ وَلِيَهَا أَنْ يَأْكُلَ مِنْهَا بِالْمَعْرُوفِ أَوْ يُطْعِمَ صَدِيقًا غَيْرَ مُتَمَوِّلٍ فِيهِ . قَالَ فَذَكَرْتُهُ لِمُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِيرِينَ فَقَالَ غَيْرَ مُتَأَثِّلٍ مَالاً . قَالَ ابْنُ عَوْنٍ فَحَدَّثَنِي بِهِ رَجُلٌ آخَرُ أَنَّهُ قَرَأَهَا فِي قِطْعَةِ أَدِيمٍ أَحْمَرَ غَيْرَ مُتَأَثِّلٍ مَالاً . قَالَ إِسْمَاعِيلُ وَأَنَا قَرَأْتُهَا عِنْدَ ابْنِ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ فَكَانَ فِيهِ غَيْرَ مُتَأَثِّلٍ مَالاً . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ . وَالْعَمَلُ عَلَى هَذَا عِنْدَ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَغَيْرِهِمْ لاَ نَعْلَمُ بَيْنَ الْمُتَقَدِّمِينَ مِنْهُمْ فِي ذَلِكَ اخْتِلاَفًا فِي إِجَازَةِ وَقْفِ الأَرَضِينَ وَغَيْرِ ذَلِكَ .
Ibn 'Umar Narrated from:
Umar Got Some Land From Khaibar And Said: 'O Messenger Of Allah! I Got Some Wealth From Khaibar And I Never Ever Had Any Wealth As Plentiful As It, So What Do You Order Me (To Do With It)?'He Said: 'If You Wish, Make It A Grant And Give Charity From It.' So 'Umar Gave It In Charity: That Is Not To Be Sold Entirely, Nor Given Away, Nor Inherited, To Be Used To Produce Charity For The Needy, Those Who Are Near It, For Freeing Slaves, For The Cause Of Allah, The Wayfarer, The Guest, And That There Is No Harm On Its Custodian Consuming What Is Customary From It, Or Eating From Its Charity, Without Trying To Amass Wealth From It.
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1375In-book reference : Book 15, Hadith 56English translation : Vol. 3, Book 13, Hadith 1375
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 1375
This hadith about waqf and continuing charity tells how Umar received land in Khaibar and asked the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) what to do with it. He said that if Umar wished, he could hold its base and give charity from it. Umar then gave it in charity with clear limits: its base was not to be sold, gifted, or inherited. Its benefits were for the needy, relatives, freeing slaves, the cause of Allah, the traveler, and the guest. The custodian could eat from it in a customary way or feed a friend without trying to build wealth from it. The hadith teaches lasting charity with clear rules and honest management.
What we learn from this hadith
- A valuable asset can be used for ongoing charity.
- The base of the waqf was kept from sale, gift, and inheritance.
- Charity can support several groups of need and service.
- The manager may benefit only in a customary and non-greedy way.
