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.
The Book of Wills - Sahih Muslim 1628f
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. This narration from Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas, preserved in Sahih Muslim, contains profound wisdom regarding Islamic inheritance law and the proper limits of testamentary bequests.
Context and Circumstance
The Prophet (ﷺ) visited Sa'd during his final illness when Sa'd had no living children except one daughter. He sought to donate all his wealth in charity, fearing it might not reach rightful heirs.
The Prophet's gradual rejection from "all" to "half" demonstrates his careful guidance, ultimately permitting one-third as the maximum bequest beyond fixed shares.
Legal Ruling and Wisdom
The one-third limit preserves the rights of prescribed heirs (Qur'an 4:11-12) while allowing charity. The Prophet's statement "one-third is enough" indicates preference for moderation.
Scholars agree this establishes one-third as the maximum permissible bequest to non-heirs when legitimate heirs exist. This prevents deprivation of those Allah has designated as rightful recipients.
Practical Application
This hadith forms the foundation of Islamic inheritance law. Muslims should will no more than one-third to voluntary causes, preserving two-thirds for Qur'anic heirs.
Even one-third is considered generous, and less is preferable if heirs are needy. The ruling balances individual charity with family obligations, maintaining social justice.