Source: An-Nahj al-Asmaa fee Sharh Asmaa’ Allaahul-Husna by Shaikh Muhammad Hamood an-Najdi
The Name Al-Waarith is mentioned three times in the Noble Qur’an in the plural form. Allaah (Ta’ala) says in Surat al-Hijr (15:23):
وإنا لنحن نحي ونميت ونحن الوارثون
“And certainly We! We it is Who give life and cause death and We are the Inheritors.”
Allaah (Ta’ala) also says in Surat al-Anbiyaa’ (21:89):
وزكريا إذ نادى ربه رب لا تذرني فردا وأنت خير الوارثين
“And (remember) Zachariah (Zakariya), when he cried to his Lord: ‘O my Lord! Leave me not single (childless), though You are the Best of the Inheritors.”
Allaah (Ta’ala) also says in Surat al-Qasas (28:58):
“And how many towns (populations) have We destroyed, which were thankless for its means of livelihood! And those are their dwellings, which have not been inhabited after them except a little. And verily, We have been the Inheritors.”
This Noble Name is mentioned once in the form of a verb in Surat Maryam (19:40):
إنا نحن نرث الأرض ومن عليها وإلينا يرجعون
“Verily, We will inherit the earth and whatsoever is thereon. And to Us they all shall be returned.”
The meaning of the Name with regards to Allaah (Ta’ala)
Ibn Jarir (Rahimahullaah) said, regarding Allaah’s Statement:
ونحن الوارثون
“And We are the Inheritors” means, and We inherit the earth and whatsoever is thereon, and that is by causing them all to die when that time is reached, such that nothing living remains except Us. [Jami’ ul-Bayaan]
He also said regarding Allaah’s Statement:
وكنا نحن الوارثين
“And Verily We have been the Inheritors” means, there was no inheritor from among them when We destroyed some of their houses, and they (the houses) returned as they were before they dwelled in them, without any owner for them except Allaah, to Whom belongs the heritage of the heavens and the earth. [Jami’ ul-Bayaan]
Az-Zajjaji said: “Allaah (Ta’ala) is the Inheritor of all the creation, because He is the One Who remains after they perish, as He (Ta’ala) says in Surat Maryam (19:40):
إنا نحن نرث الأرض ومن عليها وإلينا يرجعون
“Verily We will inherit the earth and whatsoever is thereon, and to Us they all shall be returned.” [Ishtiqaq al-Asmaa’]
Al-Khattabi said: “Al-Waarith is Who remains after the creation has perished, He Who takes back their properties and inheritance after their death. Allaah remains owning the origin of all things, gives them as inheritance to whomever He wills, and He makes whomever He loves, trustee.” [Sha’n ad-Du’aa]
Al-Hulaimee said: “Al-Waarith is the One Who remains after other than Him goes away. Our Lord, the Highly praised, is attributed with this Attribute because He remains after the death of the owners, whom He has made to enjoy what He has granted them in this worldly life. This is because their existence and the existence of their properties were by Allaah and He is Self-Subsistent.” [Al-Minhaj]
The Impact of Belief in this Name
1- Allaah, the Exalted, the Majestic is the One Who remains after all His creation will perish. He is Al-Hayy, the Ever-Living, Who never dies. He is Eternal, Who never stops (Who is never cut off), to Him returns everything and its destiny.
When all the creation dies, and their dominion is removed from them, Allaah (Ta’ala) is the Only One, the True Owner of all the possessions (proprietaries) Who remains.
He, the One, says at that time:
لمن الملك اليوم
“Whose is the kingdom this Day?”
And He, Himself will reply to His question:
لله الواحد القهار
“It is Allaah’s, the One, the Irresistible.”
[Surat Ghaafir (40:16)]
Many people think that they have true ownership (kingdom). On that Day the reality and fact of their state will be revealed to them; this call is the true (reality) of what will be revealed to them at that time.
Those with insight (who have knowledge) always witness the meaning of this call, hear it without a sound (voice) or words. They know with certainty that the dominion belongs to Allaah, the One, the Irresistible, in every day and every hour and every moment, since ever and forever.” [Al-Maqsad al-Asna]
2- Allaah (Ta’ala) showed His servants that He is Al-Waarith when He destroyed some of the unjust towns which were living in security, in a state of graciousness, until they were afflicted with ungratefulness and did not fulfill the right of the blessing, i.e. they did not thank their Lord for that which He granted them.
Allaah says in Surat al-Qasas (28:58):
وكم أهلكنا من قرية بطرت معيشتها فتلك مساكنهم لم تسكن من بعدهم إلا قليلا وكنا نحن الوارثين
“And how many a town (population) have We destroyed, which was thankless for its means of livelihood (disobeyed Allaah and His Messengers, by doing evil deeds and crimes)! And those are their dwellings, which have not been inhabited after them except a little. And Verily! We have been the Inheritors.”
His statement: “And those are their dwellings which have not been inhabited after them except a little,” i.e. a short period; only the passersby dwell in them for a day or a few days. They (these dwellings) remained as a witness (a sign) for the destruction of its people and their end, and it is an admonition (lesson) for everyone who has a heart.
“And Verily, We have been the Inheritors,” i.e. from them. No one remained to succeed them and dispose (act freely) in their dwellings (i.e. they stayed uninhabited). Rather, Allaah was the Only Inheritor of their dwellings and wealth. “Verily, We will inherit the earth and whatsoever is thereon. And to Us they all shall be returned.” [19:40]
3- Allaah urges His believing slaves to spend in His Cause. He reminds them that they are trustees over what they have of wealth, authorized to dispose of it in accordance to the Shar’ (Islamic Law). They, in fact, do not own anything. Allaah (Ta’ala) says in Surat al-Hadeed (57:7):
آمنوا بالله ورسوله وأنفقوا مما جعلكم مستخلفين فيه، فالذين آمنوا منكم وأنفقوا لهم أجر كبير
“Believe in Allaah and his Messenger [Muhammad (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)], and spend of that whereof He has made you trustee. And such of you as believe and spend (in Allaah’s Way), – theirs will be a great reward.”
He (Ta’ala) then explained to them that if they do not spend in their lives in the Cause of Allaah, it (the wealth, and what Allaah has granted them, etc.) will go back to Him when they die. This is because to Him belongs the heritage of the heavens and earth.
He (Ta’ala) says in Surat al-Hadeed (57:10):
وما لكم ألا تنفقوا في سبيل الله ولله ميراث السماوات والأرض
“And what is the matter with you that you spend not in the Cause of Allaah? And to Allaah belongs the heritage of the heavens and the earth.”
‘Abdullaah ibn ash-Shikheer (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) narrated: “I came to Allaah’s Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) while he was reciting Surat at-Takaathur (102): ‘The mutual rivalry (for piling up of worldly things) diverts you. Until you visit the graves (i.e. till you die)…’”
(After reciting) he (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “The son of Adam says: ‘My wealth, my wealth.’” Then he (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “(Whereas you have nothing) except what you eat and finish, or what you wear and wear out, or what you give in Sadaqah (charity) [to those who deserve it].” [Muslim]
This Hadeeth enjoins that if a person is endowed with wealth, he should spend it in the ways liked by Allaah because it is this Sadaqah which will be a valuable treasure in the Hereafter. Whatever else he consumes in this world, will finish or rot in this world and will be of no avail to him in the Hereafter. [Riyadh-us-Saliheen by Darus-Salaam]
4- Zachariah [Zakariya (‘Alayhis-salaam)] invoked his Lord to grant him a son (offspring) after him; a prophet, as he had reached an extreme old age and his wife was barren.
Allaah mentioned his story in His Book in Surat al-Anbiyaa’ (21:89-90):
وزكريا إذ نادى ربه رب لا تذرني فردا وأنت خير الوارثين
“And (remember) Zachariah (Zakariya), when he cried to his Lord: ‘Oh my Lord! Leave me not single (childless), though You are the best of the Inheritors.’”
فاستجبنا له ووهبنا له يحيى وأصلحنا له زوجه، إنهم كانوا يسارعون في الخيرات ويدعوننا رغبا ورهبا وكانوا لنا خاشعين
“So We answered his call, and We bestowed upon him Yahya (John), and cured his wife (to bare a child) for him. Verily, they used to hasten on to do good deeds, and they used to call on Us with hope and fear, and used to humble themselves before Us.”
i.e. bestow upon me an inheritor who shall inherit me, and inherit (also) the posterity of Jacob (Ya’qoob), Alayhis-salaam (inheritance of the religious knowledge and Prophethood, not the wealth, etc.).
His statement: “And verily, You are the Best of Inheritors,” implies a Du’aa (invocation) and praise suitable to the request.
It is also said: He (‘Alayhis-salaam) meant by his statement to return the matter to Allaah (Ta’ala), as if he was saying, “If You will not bestow upon me an offspring to inherit me, then You are the Best Waarith (Inheritor) and You are Sufficient for me.”
However, this (statement) is not suitable to the status of Du’aa which should be done with earnestness and determination. It is quoted in the Saheehain that the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “None of you should say: ‘O Allaah, forgive me if You wish, O Allaah, be merciful to me if You wish,’ but one should always appeal to Allaah with determination, for nobody can force Allaah to do something against His Will.” [Al-Bukhaari].” [End quote, Rooh al-Ma’ani’]
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