Question

Can you provide the correct wording and reference for the following narration?

تعلموا الفرائض وعلموه فإنه نصف العلم وانه ينسي وهو اول ما ينزع من امتي

 

Answer

This narration is recorded in Sunan Ibn Majah and other Hadith collections with a very weak chain. The wording is as follows:

قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: يا أبا هريرة، تعلموا الفرائض وعلموه، فإنه نصف العلم، وهو ينسى، وهو أول شيء ينزع من أمتي

Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “O Abu Hurayrah, learn the [laws of] inheritance and teach it to others for it is half of knowledge and it will be forgotten. It will be the first thing to be removed from my Ummah.”

(Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith: 2719. Refer: Zawaid Ibn Majah, Hadith: 914. Also see: Mustadrak Hakim with Talkhisul Mustadrak of Hafiz Dhahabi, vol. 4 pg. 332)

 

Note: Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) has encouraged learning the laws of inheritance in other Hadiths as well. See here.

 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

 

Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala

 

Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar