Fath al-Rabbani

Benefits: … The Noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam himself did not perform the funeral prayer (salat al-janazah) for a debtor, and instructed the Companions to perform it instead. From this, it is correct to deduce that the well-known scholars of a region should not participate in the funeral prayer of those for whom the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam did not perform the funeral prayer.

Why did the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam describe the three dinars of inheritance as three brands of fire?
It appears that there must have been some other reason for this warning; it was not expressed solely on account of the dinars. This is because the consensus of the scholars is that a deceased person does not become deserving of the Fire merely for leaving behind such an amount of wealth. Consider yourself: on the one hand, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam encouraged leaving inheritance, saying to Sayyiduna Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas radi Allahu anhu: “If you leave your heirs wealthy through your inheritance, that is better than leaving them dependent, begging from people.” (Bukhari, Muslim)

Similarly, when the man from Najd heard about the obligation of zakat, he asked the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam: “Is there any right in my wealth besides zakat?” The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam replied: “No, unless you wish to give charity voluntarily.” (Bukhari, Muslim) The meaning of this hadith is that a wealthy person, after paying zakat, may keep the remainder of his wealth, and may even die in that state.

There are many such ahadith which indicate the permissibility of accumulating wealth during one’s lifetime and its distribution among heirs after the owner’s death. Imam Bukhari, in his Sahih, has established a chapter: “Chapter: Whoever pays his zakat, his wealth is not considered a hoard (kanz); because of the saying of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam: ‘There is no charity due on less than five wasqs…’” … After paying zakat, the wealth is no longer considered the hoard (kanz) that has been condemned, because the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: “There is no zakat on less than five wasqs of grain…”

After this discussion, it can be said that perhaps this person did not properly fulfill the rights related to his wealth, such as spending on his family, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked. It is also possible that, despite having wealth, this person feigned poverty, as is indicated by the narration of Alqamah al-Muzani. He says: The people of Suffah used to spend the night in the mosque; one of them died, and when his loincloth was opened, two dinars were found in it. Upon seeing them, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: “Two brands (of fire).” (Musannaf ‘Abd al-Razzaq: 1/421/1649)

There is also the possibility that this person used to ask people for money in order to increase his own wealth. And Allah, the Most High, knows best.

In summary, a Muslim should fulfill all the rights related to wealth and accumulate wealth through lawful means; otherwise, he will become deserving of this warning.

It is also possible that the warning mentioned in this hadith means that we should be diligent in giving charity and alms. One dinar contains four and a half mashas of gold.