Chapter of what is disliked of going into depth and debating in Knowledge and going to extremes in religion and innovation

Hadith no: 7305 Some points need to be understood in order to understand this Hadeeth: Amr bin Haarith says: “The messenger of Allah, may Allah send upon him blessings and peace, did not leave except his weapons, his mule, and land which he placed as charity.” (1)It is this land which the sahaba disputed about. These words of the messenger, may Allah send upon him blessings and peace, can be interpreted in two ways: ا نُوْرَثُ مَا تَرَكْنَا صَدَقَةٌ 1. We do not inherit, what we leave is charity. 2. We do not inherit, we have not left charity. This difference in interpretation led to a misunderstanding between the sahaba. Ibn Shihaab says: Maalik bin Aws An Nasri informed me of an incident, and Muhamed bin Jubair bin Mutim would mention some of it to me, so I came to Malik and I asked him regarding the incident,so he said: I went and entered in the presence of Umar, his doorman Yarfa came to him and said: “Do you allow Uthmaan, Abdur Rahmaan, Zubair, and Saeed. They seek permission?” He said: “yes.” So they entered, said Salaam and sat down. Then he (the doorman Yarfa) said: “Do you allow Ali, and Abaas. They seek permission?” So he granted them permission. Abaas said: “Leader of the believers! Judge between me and the transgressor (Ali).” They disputed. So the group, Uthmaan and his company, said: Leader of the believers! Judge between them and put them at ease with each other. So he said: “slow down! I plead with you, by Allah with whose permission the heavens and earth run, do you know that the messenger of Allah, may Allah send upon him blessings and peace, said: ا نُوْرَثُ مَا تَرَكْنَا صَدَقَةٌ 1. We do not inherit, what we leave is charity. 2. We do not inherit, we have not left charity. The messenger of Allah, may Allah send upon him blessings and peace, meant himself. The group said: “He indeed said that”. Then Umar turned to Ali and Abbas and said: “I plead with you by Allah, do you know that the messenger of Allah, may Allah send upon him blessings and peace, said that?” They said: “yes”. Umar said: I will surely relate to you regarding this matter. Indeed Allah had made his messenger, may Allah send upon him blessings and peace, exclusive in this wealth by such a thing which he did not bestow upon anyone other than him. For verily Allah says: “And what Allah gave as booty to his messenger from them, for this you did not spur any cavalry or camel, but Allah gives power to his Messengers over whomsoever he wills. And Allah is able to do all things.” (Al Hashr: 6). So this was only for the messenger of Allah, may Allah send upon him blessings and peace. Then, by Allah, he did not keep it from you, nor did he claim it exclusively for himself, excluding you. And he gave it to you and distributed it amongst you until this wealth was left from it. And the prophet, may Allah send upon him blessings and peace, would spend on his family their year’s expenditure from this wealth. Then he would take what remained and place it in the collection of the wealth of Allah. So the prophet, may Allah send upon him blessings and peace, did that during his life. I implore you, by Allah, do you know that? So they said: “Yes.” Then he said to Ali and Abaas: I implore you, by Allah, do you know that? They said: “Yes.” Then Allah took his messenger, may Allah send upon him blessings and peace. So Abu Bakr said: “I am the deputy of the messenger of Allah, may Allah send upon him blessings and peace.” So Abu Bakr took it and spent it in what the messenger of Allah, may Allah send upon him blessings and peace, spent it in and you were at that time – and he turned to Ali and Abaas – thinking that Abu Bakr is like this regarding it. And Allah knows that he was truthful, upright, guided and one to follow the right way regarding it. Then Allah took Abu Bakr, so I said: “I am the deputy of the messenger of Allah, may Allah send upon him blessings and peace, and Abu Bakr.” So I took it for two years dealing with it the way the messenger of Allah, may Allah send upon him blessings and peace, and Abu Bakr dealt with it. Then you two came to me and your words were upon one word, and your matters were together. You came to me asking me for your share from your nephew. And this one came to me asking me for his wife’s share from her father. So I said: “If you wish I will hand it over to you on the condition that the promise and covenant of Allah will be your responsibility. You will deal with it as the messenger of Allah, may Allah send upon him blessings and peace, dealt with it, and as Abu Bakr dealt with it, and as I dealt with it since I was entrusted it. Otherwise do not talk to me about it.” So you two said: “Hand it to us upon that.” So I handed it over to you upon that. I implore you, by Allah, Did I hand it over to them upon that? The group said: “Yes.” Then he turned to Ali and Abaas and said: I implore you, by Allah, Did I hand it over to you upon that? They said: “Yes.” He said: Do you seek a judgement from me other than that? For by the one with whose permission the heaven and the earth run, I will not pass a judgement regarding it other than that until the hour occurs. If you are incapable of handling it then hand it over to me, I will suffice you in dealing with it.