—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said to me: “When the funds from Bahrain arrive, I will scoop out a handful for you (1), then another, [three times] (2).”’ He said to him, ‘Step forward and take the same number of handfuls (3).’ Thus he took [from the treasury] (4) funds belonging to the Muslims without any evidence, solely on the strength of his own word” (5).

The response is that this discourse contains so many lies, calumnies, and corrupt arguments that they can scarcely be enumerated without considerable effort. Nevertheless, we shall mention several of them [if Allah Most High wills] (6).

First: What was stated about Fātimah—may Allah be pleased with her—claiming Fadak contradicts its being (7) an inheritance due to her. If she sought it (8) by way of inheritance, it could not have been by way of a gift; and if it was by way of a gift, it could not have been by way of inheritance. Moreover, if this gift was made during his final illness, then the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—if his estate were inheritable like that of others, would be far above making a bequest to an heir or favoring him during his final illness with more than his rightful share. If, however, it was made while he was in good health (9), it must have been a gift that had actually been taken into possession. Otherwise, if a donor makes a gift merely verbally (10), but the recipient takes possession of nothing before the donor dies (11),