A Study of the hadith of the Prophet's Inheritance

According to Sunni narrative sources، Abu Bakr quotes the Prophet’s words that “We، the group of prophets، do not leave any inheritance; what we leave is counted as alms.” Although Sunnis believe in authenticity of this narration، Shi''ites reject it because of lack of the chain of transmission and its conflict with the Quran and the Prophet''s tradition. This article attempts to search this hadith in narrative sources of sunnis and Shiites، investigate criticisms of Shi''ites on it، and present some answers of Sunnis. Finally، the study indicates that the conflict that this hadith bring about in interpretation، Roots of law (usul)، and hadith sciences of Sunnism and Shiism is due to the theological basis of the infallibility. Shi''ites rely on Ali‘s and Zahra’s words and consider them as authority against what Abu Bakr has related. They describe general verses about inheritance in general، prophets’ inheritance and the relationship between the Quran and the Prophet''s tradition based on this word (i. e. infallibility). However، Sunnis reject Ahl al-Bayt’s infallibility. So، they didn’t accept Ahl al-Bayt’s opposition with what Abu Bakr had related in this regard.