Hadithcore
Sunan Abi Dawud, 2887
sahih· Al-Albani

Narrated Jabir ibn Abdullah:

I fell ill, and I had seven sisters. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came to me and blew on my face. So I became conscious. I said: Messenger of Allah, may I not bequeath one-third of my property to my sisters? He replied: Do good. I asked: Half? He replied: Do good. He then went out and left me, and said: I do not think, Jabir, you will die of this disease. Allah has revealed (verses) and described the share of your sisters. He appointed two-thirds for them. Jabir used to say: This verse was revealed about me: "They ask you for a legal decision. Say: Allah directs (thus) about those who leave no descendants or ascendants as heirs.

حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا كَثِيرُ بْنُ هِشَامٍ، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ، - يَعْنِي الدَّسْتَوَائِيَّ - عَنْ أَبِي الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ جَابِرٍ، قَالَ اشْتَكَيْتُ وَعِنْدِي سَبْعُ أَخَوَاتٍ فَدَخَلَ عَلَىَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَنَفَخَ فِي وَجْهِي فَأَفَقْتُ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَلاَ أُوصِي لأَخَوَاتِي بِالثُّلُثِ قَالَ ‏"‏ أَحْسِنْ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قُلْتُ الشَّطْرَ قَالَ ‏"‏ أَحْسِنْ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ وَتَرَكَنِي فَقَالَ ‏"‏ يَا جَابِرُ لاَ أُرَاكَ مَيِّتًا مِنْ وَجَعِكَ هَذَا وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ أَنْزَلَ فَبَيَّنَ الَّذِي لأَخَوَاتِكَ فَجَعَلَ لَهُنَّ الثُّلُثَيْنِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ فَكَانَ جَابِرٌ يَقُولُ أُنْزِلَتْ هَذِهِ الآيَةُ فِيَّ ‏{‏ يَسْتَفْتُونَكَ قُلِ اللَّهُ يُفْتِيكُمْ فِي الْكَلاَلَةِ ‏}‏ ‏.‏

References2 variants
In-Book Reference
Book 19, Hadith 3
English Reference
Book 18, Hadith 2881
Sharh · explanationclick to expand
The pure Islamic law organized all matters of inheritance in all their types and details, so that estates would not become subject to plunder or personal whims among people.In this Hadith, Jabir ibn `Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) says: "I became ill," meaning: I fell sick and feared death from my illness, "and I had seven sisters" whom he was caring for after their father's death in the Battle of Uhud. "The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) entered upon me and blew on my face, and I regained consciousness," meaning: I recovered. So I said: "O Messenger of Allah, should I not bequeath one-third to my sisters?" The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "Do better," meaning: increase their bequest beyond one-third. I said: "Half?" meaning: half of his wealth. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "Do better." Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Then he went out and left me," meaning: the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), "and left me." Then after that, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) reassured Jabir, saying to him: "O Jabir, it seems you will not die from this illness of yours," meaning: from your sickness. Perhaps the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) knew this through revelation, or that the illness he had did not threaten death. "Indeed Allah has revealed" — meaning: verses — "and clarified the share due to your sisters," meaning: what inheritance they would receive, and the intent is that there is no need for him to make a bequest for them. "He has assigned two-thirds for them," meaning: Allah ordained two-thirds of the estate for them, and this applies when their number is two or more. Abu Az-Zubair Muhammad ibn Muslim, who narrates from Jabir, said: "Jabir used to say: This verse was revealed concerning me (interpretation of the meaning): {They ask you for a legal verdict. Say: Allah directs (thus) about Al-Kalalah} [An-Nisa’ 4:176]. Al-Kalalah refers to one who has no ascendant or descendant to inherit from him, meaning: one who has no child or parent. This Hadith explains the reason for the revelation of the verse about Al-Kalalah..
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