Abu Huraira reported the Prophet as saying, “I am nearer to the believers than themselves, so if anyone dies leaving a debt without leaving enough to pay it I shall be responsible for paying it, and if anyone leaves property it goes to his heirs.” A version has, “If anyone leaves a debt or children without maintenance let the matter come to me, for I am his guardian.” Another version has, “If anyone leaves property it goes to his heirs and if anyone leaves dependents without resources they come to us.”
Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Give the shares to those who are entitled to them, and what remains over goes to the nearest male heir.”
Anas reported the Prophet as saying, “The freedman* of a people is one of them.”
* Maula. This word may mean either the one who emancipates or the one who has been emancipated, and therefore the tradition has received two different interpretations according to the meaning of maula.
