Narrated from Sayyiduna Miqdam bin Ma’di Karib al-Kindi (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Whoever leaves behind wealth in inheritance, it will belong to his heirs, and whoever leaves behind debt or small children, then I am responsible for him. Whoever has no guardian, I am his guardian; I will pay on his behalf and I will be his heir. And whoever has no heir, his maternal uncle will be his heir and he will pay on his behalf and be his heir. In another narration: The maternal uncle will be the heir of the one who has no heir, and whoever has absolutely no heir, I will be his heir and I will pay the blood money on his behalf.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Umamah bin Sahl (may Allah be pleased with him) that Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) sent a written order to Sayyiduna Abu Ubaidah bin Jarrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that teach your boys swimming and the warriors archery. So, those people used to practice shooting at their targets. One day, an arrow struck a boy and he died. It could not be determined whose lineage he belonged to, but he was being raised by his maternal uncle. Sayyiduna Abu Ubaidah (may Allah be pleased with him) wrote to Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) asking to whom should the blood money (diyah) of this boy be entrusted. Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) replied in a letter: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Whoever has no guardian, Allah and His Messenger are his guardians, and the maternal uncle will be his heir if he has no other heir.