Sunni reference...

Sunni reference: Musnad of Imam Ahmed, v5, p45 Musnad of Imam Ahmed, v6, p155 Kanz al-Ummal, v6, pp 153,155,404 I shall cite a Quranic Verse in the support of the statement that the heirs of the Prophet (PBUH) repaid his debts.

With reference to the Quranic Verse (26: 124), Ibn Mardawayh has recorded a tradition as related by Ali, who said that when the verse "Give warning to your closest relatives" was revealed, the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: "Ali will repay my debts and fulfill my promises." Kanz al-Ummal, v6, p401 Again Imam Ahmed (in his Musnad) states a hadith from the Prophet (PBUH) as follows: "None will repay my debts and discharge my duties except me or Ali." - Musnad of Imam Ahmed, v4, p174 Khalid> my wives and payment for my doers and whatever is left is Alms.

Now Khalid> let us observe how this inheritance issue arose and what actions Khalid> wee taken by the caliphs. Now with reference to the above hadiths who gave Abu Bakr the right to distribute the Property of the Prophet (PBUH), when the Holy Apostle (PBUH) had clearly mentioned that it was Imam Ali (AS) and Imam Ali (AS) alone who was entitled to distribute his property and/or repay his debts.

Let me quote one more tradition that would state that Imam Ali (AS) paid of the debts of the Prophet (PBUH) through his *own account*. The tradition is as follows: After the death of the Prophet (PBUH) Ali discharged certain duties. Most of these were the promises and the contracts made by the Prophet which Ali fulfilled. I think that he had mentioned 5000 (Five thousand) dirhams, which were repaid by Ali.

Kanz al-Ummal, v4, p60 Please bear in mind that the debt was paid from the personal property of Imam Ali (AS) and not from the Baitul-Mal, this was also followed by Imam Hasan, Imam Hussain. In this connection, the following is reported in Tabaqat of Ibn Sa'd: Abdul Wahid Abi Aun reports that after the demise of the Holy Prophet (PBUH&HF), Ali ordered an announcer to make it known if there was some one to whom the Prophet (PBUH&HF) owed some debt or promise, he should have if from Ali.

After Ali, hassan, hussain repeated the same thing. It means that after the passing away of the Prophet (PBUH&HF) his descendants continued announcing publicly for fifty (50) years their responsibilities, which they fulfilled.