Question

Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radiyallahu ‘anhu) brought all of his wealth to Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) asked him, “What have you kept for your family?” he replied, “I have kept Allah and His Rasul”

What is the authenticity of this?

Answer

This Hadith has been declared authentic by Imam Tirmidhi and Imam Hakim (rahimahumallah). Hafiz Dhahabi concurs.

The full narration is as follows. Sayyiduna ‘Umar ibn Al Khattab (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reports:

Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) commanded us to give sadaqah. It so happened that at that time I had some wealth. I said to myself, ‘Today, I have an opportunity to surpass Abu Bakr’, so I brought half of my wealth. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) asked: ‘What have you left for your family?’ I replied: ‘The like of what I have brought’. Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radiyallahu ‘anhu) then came with his wealth. Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) asked him, ‘What have you left for your family’? He replied: ‘I have left Allah and his Messenger for them (i.e., Sayyiduna Abu Bakr -radiyallahu ‘anhu- had brought all of his wealth). Sayyiduna ‘Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhu) said, ‘I will never be able to surpass Abu Bakr ever’.

(Sunan Tirmidhi, Hadith: 3675, Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith: 1675 and Mustadrak Hakim, vol. 1, pg. 414)

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar