Is the following authentic?
After a Sahabi from the Ashabus Suffah had passed away, one or two Dirhams ware found in his pocket. When Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) was informed he said this will be a means of branding him.
Answer
Imam Ahmad, Imam Ibn Hibban (rahimahumullah) and others have recorded this narration.
(Musnad Ahmad, vol. 1 pg. 101. Declared authentic by Imam Ibn Hibban; Al Ihsan, Hadith: 3263. Also see: Majma’uz Zawaid, vol. 10 pg. 240)
Due to the following narration, the Hadith in question will be understood to mean that this Sahabi had acquired the Dinars by begging merely to increase his wealth:
Sayyiduna Abu Sa’id Al khudri (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) was once distributing gold when a man said, ‘Give me’. Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) gave him. He said, ‘Give me more’. Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) gave him. This happened thrice. When he turned away, Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:
“The man asked and I gave him thrice, he has turned away in such a condition that he has placed fire in his pockets when he returns to his family”
(Sahih Ibn Hibban, Al Ihsan, Hadith: 3265)
Note: There is no harm in leaving behind wealth for one’s heirs, as Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said to Sayyiduna Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas (radiyallahu ‘anhu):
“It is better that you leave your heirs wealthy rather than leaving them poor begging from people”
(Sahih Bukhari, Hadith: 2742 and Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 1628)
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar