The Book of Wills

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah said: When a person dies, his deeds come to an end except for three: ongoing charity, knowledge from which people benefit, and a righteous child who prays for him.

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that a man said to the Prophet: ‘My father died and left wealth, but made no bequest. Will giving charity on his behalf expiate for him?’ He replied, ‘Yes.’

It was narrated that Ash-Sharid bin Suwaid Ath-Thaqafi said: I came to the Messenger of Allah and said, ‘My mother made a bequest that a slave be freed on her behalf. I have a Nubian slave girl; will it suffice if I free her on her behalf?’ He said, ‘Bring her to me.’ When I brought her, the Prophet asked her, ‘Who is your Lord?’ She replied, ‘Allah.’ He asked, ‘Who am I?’ She replied, ‘You are the Messenger of Allah.’ He said, ‘Then free her, for she is a believer.’

It was narrated from Ibn Abbas that Sa'd asked the Prophet: ‘My mother died without making a bequest. Should I give charity on her behalf?’ He replied, ‘Yes.’

It was narrated from Ibn Abbas that a man said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, my mother has died. Will giving charity on her behalf benefit her?’ He replied, ‘Yes.’ The man said, ‘I have a garden, and I ask you to bear witness that I give it in charity on her behalf.’

It was narrated from Sa'd bin Ubadah that he came to the Prophet and said: ‘My mother has died while owing a vow. Will it suffice if I free a slave on her behalf?’ He replied, ‘Free a slave on behalf of your mother.’

It was narrated from Sa'd bin Ubadah that he asked the Prophet for guidance about a vow his mother had owed. She died before fulfilling it, so the Messenger of Allah said, ‘Fulfill it on her behalf.’

It was narrated from Sa'd bin Ubadah that he asked the Prophet about a vow his mother had owed. She died before fulfilling it, so the Messenger of Allah said, ‘Fulfill it on her behalf.’

It was narrated that Ibn Abbas said: Sa'd asked the Messenger of Allah about a vow his mother had owed. She died before fulfilling it, so the Messenger of Allah said, ‘Fulfill it on her behalf.’

Al-Harith bin Miskin said—while the report was being read to him and I was listening—that it was transmitted from Sufyan, from al-Zuhri, from Ubaidullah bin Abdullah, from Ibn Abbas, that Sa'd bin Ubadah asked the Prophet about a vow his mother had owed. She died before fulfilling it, so the Messenger of Allah said, ‘Fulfill it on her behalf.’

Muhammad bin Abdullah bin Yazid said: Sufyan narrated to us, from al-Zuhri, from Ubaidullah bin Abdullah, from Ibn Abbas, that Sa'd said: ‘My mother died owing a vow. I asked the Prophet, and he instructed me to fulfill it on her behalf.’

It was narrated that Ibn Abbas said: Sa'd bin Ubadah al-Ansari asked the Messenger of Allah about a vow his mother had owed. She died before fulfilling it, so the Messenger of Allah said, ‘Fulfill it on her behalf.’

It was narrated that Ibn Abbas said: Sa'd bin Ubadah came to the Prophet and said, ‘My mother died owing a vow that she had not fulfilled.’ He replied, ‘Fulfill it on her behalf.’

It was narrated that Sa'd bin Ubadah said: I asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, my mother has died. Should I give charity on her behalf?’ He replied, ‘Yes.’ I asked, ‘Which charity is best?’ He said, ‘Providing drinking water.’

It was narrated that Sa'd bin Ubadah said: I asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, which charity is best?’ He replied, ‘Providing drinking water.’

It was narrated from Sa'd bin Ubadah that his mother had died. He said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, may I give charity on her behalf?’ He replied, ‘Yes.’ He asked, ‘Which charity is best?’ He said, ‘Providing drinking water.’ This is Sa'd's water-giving endowment in Medina.

It was narrated that Abu Dharr said: The Messenger of Allah said to me, ‘O Abu Dharr, I see that you are weak, and I wish for you what I wish for myself. Do not take charge over even two people, and do not assume responsibility for an orphan’s property.’

It was narrated from Amr bin Shu'aib, from his father, from his grandfather, that a man came to the Prophet and said: ‘I am poor and have nothing, and I have an orphan under my care.’ He replied, ‘Eat from your orphan’s property without extravagance, waste, or hoarding it as your own capital.’

It was narrated that Ibn Abbas said: When the verses ‘Do not approach an orphan’s property except in the best manner’ and ‘Those who consume the property of orphans unjustly…’ were revealed, people avoided orphans’ property and food. This caused hardship for the Muslims, so they complained to the Prophet. Then Allah revealed: ‘They ask you about orphans. Say: setting things right for them is best…’ until the words, ‘He would have made things difficult for you.’

It was narrated that Ibn Abbas said, concerning the verse ‘Those who consume the property of orphans unjustly’: A man would have an orphan in his care and keep the orphan’s food, drink, and utensils separate. This caused hardship for the Muslims, so Allah revealed: ‘If you mix with them, they are your brothers’—that is, brothers in religion—and thus permitted them to share their affairs.