The Book of Wills

كتاب الوصية

Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying

It is the duty of a Muslim who has something which is to be given as a bequest not to have it for two nights without having his will written down regarding it.

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of 'Ubaidullah with the same chain of transmitters. but with a slight variation of words.

A hadith like this have been narrated on the authority of Nafi', who based his narrations of the words of Ibn 'Umar but with a slight variation of words.

Salim reported on the authority of his father ('Abdullah b. Umar) that he (his father) had heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying

It is not proper for a Muslim who has got something to bequeathe to spend even three nights without having his will written down with him regarding it. 'Abdullah b. 'Umar (Allah be pleased with them) said: Ever since I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) say this I have not spent a night without having my will (written) along with me.

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Zuhri with the same chain of transmitters.

Chapter 1: Bequeathing One-Third

Amir b. Sa'd reported on the authority of his father (Sa'd b. Abi Waqqas)

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) visited me in my illness which brought me near death in the year of Hajjat-ul-Wada' (Farewell Pilgrimage). I said: Allah's Messenger, you can well see the pain with which I am afflicted and I am a man possessing wealth, and there is none to inherit me except only one daughter. Should I give two-thirds of my property as Sadaqa? He said: No. I said: Should I give half (of my property) as Sadaqa? He said: No. He (further) said: Give one-third (in charity) and that is quite enough. To leave your heirs rich is better than to leave them poor, begging from people; that you would never incur an expense seeking therewith the pleasure of Allah, but you would be rewarded therefor, even for a morsel of food that you put in the mouth of your wife. I said: Allah's Messenger. would I survive my companions? He (the Holy Prophet) said: If you survive them, then do such a deed by means of which you seek the pleasure of Allah, but you would increase in your status (in religion) and prestige; you may survive so that people would benefit from you, and others would be harmed by you. (The Holy Prophet) further said: Allah, complete for my Companions their migration, and not cause them to turn back upon their heels. Sa'd b. Khaula is, however, unfortunate. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) felt grief for him as he had died in Mecca.

This hadith is narrated on the authority of Zuhri with the same chain of transmitters.

'Amir b. Sa'd reported from S'ad (b. Abu Waqqas)

Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) visited me to inquire after my health, the rest of the hadith is the same as transmitted on the authority of Zuhri, but lie did not make mention of the words of Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) in regard to Sa'd b. Khaula except this that he said:" He (the Holy Prophet) did not like death in the land from which lie had migrated."

Mus'ab b. Sa'd reported on the authority of his father. I was ailing. I sent message to Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) saying

Permit me to give away my property as I like. He refused. I (again) said: (Permit me) to give away half. He (again refused). I (again said): Then one-third. He (the Holy Prophet) observed silence after (I had asked permission to give away) one-third. He (the narrater) said: It was then that endowment of one-third became permissible.

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Simak with the same chain of transmitters. But he did not mention

" It was then that one-third became permissible."

Ibn Sa'd reported his father as saying

Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) visited me during my illness. I said: I am willing away the whole of my property. He said: No. I said: Then half? He said: No. I said: Should I will away one-third? He said: Yes, and even one-third is enough.

Humaid b. 'Abd al-Rahman al-Himyari reported from three of the sons of Sa'd all of whom reported from their father that Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) visited Sa'd as he was ill in Mecca. He (Sa'd) wept. He (the Holy Prophet) said

What makes you weep? He said: I am afraid I may die in the land from where I migrated as Sa'd b. Khaula had died. Thereupon Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) said: O Allah, grant health to Sa'd. O Allah, grant health to Sad. He repeated it three times. He (Sa'd) said: Allah's Messenger, I own a large property and I have only one daughter as my inheritor. Should I not will away the whole of my property? He (the Holy Prophet) said: No. He said: (Should I not will away, ) two-thirds of the property? he (the Holy Prophet) said: No. He (Sa'd) (again) said: (Should I not will away) half (of my property)? He said: No. He (Sa'd) said: Then one-third? Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: (Yes), one-third, and one-third is quite substanial. And what you spend as charity from your property is Sadaqa and flour spending on your family is also Sadaqa, and what your wife eats from your property is also Sadaqa, and that you leave your heirs well off (or he said: prospreous) is better than to leave them (poor and) begging from people. He (the Holy Prophet) pointed this with his hands.

Humaid b. Abd al-Rahmin al-Himayri reported on the authority of the three of the sons of Sa'd

They said: Sa'd fell ill in Mecca. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) visited him to inquire after his health. The rest of the hadith is the same.

Humaid b. Abd al-Rahman reported this hadith on the authority of three of Sa'd's sons

Sa'd fell ill in Mecca and Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) visited him. The rest of the hadith is the same.

Ibn 'Abbas (Allah be pleased with them) said

(I wish) if people would reduce from third to fourth (part for making a will of their property), for Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: So far as the third (part) is concerned it is quite substantial. In the hadith transmitted on the authority of Waki (the words are)" large" or" much".

Chapter 2: The Reward For Charity Reaches The Deceased

Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported that a person said to Allah's Apostle (ﷺ)

My father died and left behind property without making any will regarding it. Would he be relieved of the burden of his sins if I give sadaqa on his behalf? He (the Holy Prophet) said: Yes.

A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported that a man said to Allah's Apostle (ﷺ)

My mother died all of a sudden, and I think if she (could have the opportunity) to speak she would have (made a will) regarding Sadaqa'. Will I be entitled to reward if I give charity on her behalf? He (the Holy Prophet) said: Yes.

A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported that a man came to Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) and said

Allah's Messenger, my mother died all of a sudden without making any will. I think if (she could have the opportunity) to speak she would have made a Sadaqa. Would there be any reward for her if I give charity on her behalf? He (the Holy Prophet) said: Yes.

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Hisham b. 'Urwa with the same chain of transmitters.

Chapter 3: What Reward Reaches A Man After His Death

Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying

When a man dies, his acts come to an end, but three, recurring charity, or knowledge (by which people) benefit, or a pious son, who prays for him (for the deceased).