"Sa'd fell sick and the Messenger of Allah entered upon him and he said: 'O Messenger of Allah, shall I bequeath all my money?' He said: 'No.'" And he quoted the same Hadith.
The Book of Wills - Sunan an-Nasa'i 3629
"Sa'd fell sick and the Messenger of Allah entered upon him and he said: 'O Messenger of Allah, shall I bequeath all my money?' He said: 'No.'" And he quoted the same Hadith.
Contextual Analysis
This narration concerns Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas, one of the ten companions promised Paradise. When gravely ill, he sought the Prophet's guidance regarding disposing his entire wealth through bequest.
The Prophet's decisive prohibition demonstrates the Islamic principle of balancing charitable intentions with the rights of legal heirs.
Legal Ruling (Fiqh)
Scholars derive from this hadith that a Muslim cannot bequeath more than one-third of their estate, preserving two-thirds for rightful heirs. This limitation applies even when the testator possesses substantial wealth.
The prohibition safeguards against impoverishing heirs or disrupting the divinely ordained inheritance system.
Wisdom Behind the Restriction
This ruling maintains family stability by ensuring heirs receive their prescribed shares. It prevents impulsive decisions during illness that might harm dependents.
The one-third allowance permits charitable acts while upholding family obligations - embodying Islam's balanced approach to wealth distribution.
Scholarly Consensus
All four Sunni schools of jurisprudence agree upon the one-third limitation for bequests, based on this and similar narrations. Exceptions exist only when all heirs consent to larger bequests.
This ruling exemplifies how Prophetic guidance protects both individual piety and social justice within the Muslim community.