Question

Is the following narration authentic?

Sayyidah ‘Aishah (radiyallahu ‘anha) narrated:

“Abu Bakr (radiyallahu ‘anhu) gave me palm trees whose produce was twenty awsuq (a unit of measure). When he was on his death bed, he said, ‘By Allah, little daughter, there is no one I would prefer to be wealthy after I die than you and there is no one whose poverty would be more difficult for me to bear than you.

I gave you palm-trees whose produce is twenty awsuq. Had you cut them and taken possession of them, they would have been yours, but today they are the property of the heirs, and they are your two brothers and your two sisters, so divide it according to the Book of Allah.’

‘Aishah (radiyallahu ‘anha) continued:

‘I said, ‘My father! By Allah, even if it had been [more], I would have left it. There is only Asma. Who is my other sister?’ Abu Bakr replied, ‘What is in the womb of [Habibah bint] Kharijah, [The wife of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr] I think that it is going to be a girl.’”

Answer

Imam Malik (rahimahullah) has reported this Hadith with a reliable chain. Many other Muhaddithun have also recorded this Hadith via Imam Malik (rahimahullah).

(Muwatta Imam Malik -riwayah of Yahya ibn Yahya-, Hadith: 2189 and Muwatta Imam Muhammad, Hadith: 806)

Some commentators explain that Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radiyallahu ‘anhu) had seen a dream. His interpretation of this dream was that he will be blessed with another daughter.

(Refer: Awjazul Masalik, Hadith: 1465. Also see: Majmu’ul Fatawa of ‘Allamah Ibn Taymiyyah, vol. 11, pg. 318 and Al Muwafaqat of Imam Shatibi, vol. 4, pg. 458/9)

Note: I have merely answered your question regarding the authenticity of this Hadith. Kindly refer to a reliable Mufti/Darul Ifta regarding the laws based on the Hadith.

Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar