Allah commands that the trusts be returned to their rightful owners. Al-Hasan narrated
that Samurah said that the Messenger of Allah said,
«أَدِّ الْأَمَانَةَ إِلى مَنِ ائْتَمَنَكَ،
وَلَا تَخُنْ مَنْ خَانَك»
(Return the trust to those who entrusted you, and do not betray those who betrayed
you.) Imam Ahmad and the collectors of Sunan recorded this Hadith. This command
refers to all things that one is expected to look after, such as Allah's rights
on His servants: praying, Zakah, fasting, penalties for sins, vows and so forth.
The command also includes the rights of the servants on each other, such as what
they entrust each other with, including the cases that are not recorded or documented.
Allah commands that all types of trusts be fulfillled. Those who do not implement
this command in this life, it will be extracted from them on the Day of Resurrection.
It is recorded in the Sahih that the Messenger of Allah said,
«لَتُؤَدَّنَّ الْحُقُوقُ إِلى أَهْلِهَا
حَتَّى يُقْتَصَّ لِلشَّاةِ الْجَمَّاءِ مِنَ الْقَرْنَاء»
(The rights will be rendered back to those to whom they are due, and even the sheep
that does not have horns will take revenge from the horned sheep.) Ibn Jarir recorded
that Ibn Jurayj said about this Ayah, "It was revealed concerning `Uthman bin Talhah
from whom the Messenger of Allah took the key of the Ka`bah and entered it on the
Day of the victory of Makkah. When the Prophet went out, he was reciting this Ayah,
﴿إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَن تُؤدُّواْ
الاحَمَـنَـتِ إِلَى أَهْلِهَا﴾
(Verily, Allah commands that you should render back the trusts to those, to whom
they are due). He then called `Uthman and gave the key back to him.'' Ibn Jarir
also narrated that `Umar bin Al-Khattab said, "When the Messenger of Allah went
out of the Ka`bah, he was reciting this Ayah,
﴿إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَن تُؤدُّواْ
الاحَمَـنَـتِ إِلَى أَهْلِهَا﴾
(Verily, Allah commands that you should render back the trusts to those, to whom
they are due). May I sacrifice my father and mother for him, I never heard him recite
this Ayah before that.'' It is popular that this is the reason behind revealing
the Ayah (4:58). Yet, the application of the Ayah is general, and this is why Ibn
`Abbas and Muhammad bin Al-Hanafiyyah said, "This Ayah is for the righteous and
wicked,'' meaning it is a command that encompasses everyone.