829 – Abu Qilabah narrated from Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “The most knowledgeable among you with regard to the laws of inheritance is Zayd ibn Thabit.” The report was collected by Ahmad and the Four except Abu Dawud, and was graded authentic by al-Tirmidhi, Ibn Hibban, and al-Hakim, though it has also been classed as mursal (1).

• Hadith grading:
Al-Tirmidhi, Ibn Hibban, and al-Hakim declared the hadith sound. In al-Talkhis it is stated: “Ahmad, al-Tirmidhi, al-Nasa’i, Ibn Majah, Ibn Hibban, and al-Hakim all transmitted the narration of Abu Qilabah from Anas; al-Tirmidhi, al-Hakim, and Ibn Hibban judged it authentic, although some have ruled it mursal. Abu Qilabah’s hearing from Anas is firmly established, yet it has been said that he did not hear this particular hadith from him. Al-Daraqutni, al-Bayhaqi, and al-Khatib preferred the view that the connected portion is: ‘Every community has a trustworthy custodian, and the custodian of this community is Abu Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah,’ while the rest is mursal. The narration has additional chains, none free of discussion, but they strengthen one another.”

• Vocabulary notes:
– Abu Qilabah: pronounced with a kasrah on the qaf. He is ‘Abd Allah ibn Zayd al-Jarmi al-Basri, a trustworthy Successor and the transmitter who narrated most frequently from Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him).
– “Afaradukum Zayd”: Afraḍ is the superlative form, signifying that Zayd ibn Thabit al-Ansari was the Companion most learned in the science of inheritance shares (farāʾid).