in it exactly as he had done, while you were both present. Then ʿAlī approached me, and al-ʿAbbās has been claiming that in this affair I am a liar, a wicked sinner, a treacherous betrayer—yet Allah knows that in it I am truthful, devout, rightly guided, and following the truth. After that you two came together, speaking with one voice and united purpose: you (al-ʿAbbās) asked me for your share of your nephew’s estate, and this man (ʿAlī) asked me for the portion due to his wife from her father. I said to both of you, “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, ‘We Prophets are not inherited from; whatever we leave behind is charity.’”
When I then resolved to hand it over to you, I set a condition: “If you wish, I will give it to you on the pledge and covenant of Allah that you will administer it exactly as the Messenger of Allah ﷺ did and as Abū Bakr did after him; otherwise, do not speak to me about it.” You replied, “Give it to us on that basis,” so I handed it over to you.
Now, I adjure you by Allah—did I deliver it to them on that condition? The group said, “Yes.” He turned to ʿAlī and al-ʿAbbās and said, “I implore you both by Allah—did I hand it over to you on that condition?” They said, “Yes.” He said, “Are you then seeking from me a judgment other than that? By the One at whose command the heavens and the earth stand, I will give no ruling about it other than this until the Hour is established. If you two are unable to manage it, then return it to me and I will take care of it for you.”
Al-Zuhrī reported: al-Aʿraj told me that he heard Abū Hurayrah say, “I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ declare, ‘By Him in Whose hand is my soul, none of my heirs will divide anything of what I leave; whatever we leave behind is charity.’”
That charitable estate was first in ʿAlī’s custody, then al-ʿAbbās overpowered him regarding it, and it was over that property that they disputed. ʿUmar refused to divide it between them until al-ʿAbbās withdrew and ʿAlī retained control. Thereafter it passed into the hands of al-Ḥasan, then al-Ḥusayn, then to ʿAlī ibn al-Ḥusayn and al-Ḥasan ibn al-Ḥasan, who alternated in its care, and finally to Zayd. It is indeed the charity of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in truth.