The Book of Wills
كتاب الوصايا
Chapter 7: If A Person Dies Unexpectedly, It Is Recommended For His Family To Give Charity On His Behalf
"Sa'd bin 'Ubadah went out with the Prophet on one of his campaigns, and death came to his mother in Al-Madinah. It was said to her (as she was dying): 'Make a will.' She said: 'To whom shall I make a will? The wealth belongs to Sa'd.' Then she died before Sa'd came. When Sa'd came, he was told about that and he said: 'O Messenger of Allah, will it benefit her if I give in charity on her behalf?' The Prophet said: 'Yes.' Sa'd said: 'Such and such a garden is given in charity on her behalf' -regarding a garden that he named."
Chapter 8: The Virtue Of Charity Given On Behalf Of The Deceased
"When a man dies all his good deeds come to an end except three: Ongoing charity (Sadaqah Jariyah), beneficial knowledge and a righteous son who prays for him."
"My father died and left behind wealth, but he did not leave a will. Will it expiate for him if I give charity on his behalf?"
"I came to the Messenger of Allah and said: 'My mother left a will saying that a slave should 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 here.' The Prophet said to her: 'Who is your Lord?' She said: 'Allah.' He said: 'Who am I?' She said: 'The Messenger of Allah.' He said: 'Set her free , for she is a believer.'"
"My mother died and did not leave a will; shall I give charity on her behalf?" He said: "Yes."
"O Messenger of Allah, my mother died; will it benefit her if I give in charity on her behalf?" He said: "Yes." He said: "I have a garden and I ask you to bear witness that I am giving it in charity on her behalf."
"My mother has died and she had a vow to fulfill. Will it suffice if I free a slave on her behalf?" He said: "Free a slave on behalf of your mother."
"Fulfill it on her behalf."
"Fulfill it on her behalf."
"Sa'd consulted the Messenger of Allah about a vow which his mother had to fulfill, but she died before doing so. The Messenger of Allah said: 'Fulfill it on her behalf.'"
Chapter 9: Mentioning The Different Reports From Sufyan
"From Sufyan, from Az-Zuhri, from 'Ubaidullah bin 'Abdullah, from Ibn 'Abbas, that Sa'd bin 'Ubadah consulted the Prophet about a vow which his mother had to fulfill, but she died before doing so. The Messenger of Allah said: 'Fulfill it on her behalf.'"
"Sufyan narrated to us from Az-Zuhri, from 'Ubaidullah bin 'Abdullah, from Ibn 'Abbas, that Sa'd said: 'My mother died and there was an (outstanding) vow that she had to fulfill. I asked the Prophet and he told me to fulfill it on her behalf.'"
"Sa'd bin 'Ubadah Al-Ansari consulted the Messenger of Allah about an (outstanding) vow that his mother had to fulfill, but she died before doing so. The Messenger of Allah said: 'Fulfill it on her behalf.'"
Sa'd bin 'Ubadah came to the Prophet and said: "My mother has died and she had a vow to fulfill but she did not do so." He said: "Fulfill it on her behalf."
"I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, my mother has died; shall I give in charity on her behalf?' He said: 'Yes.' I said: 'What kind of charity is best?' He said: 'Providing drinking water.'"
"I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, what kind of charity is best?' He said: 'Providing drinking water.'"
"O Messenger of Allah, my mother has died; can I give charity on her behalf?" He said: "Yes." He said: "What kind of charity is best?" He said: "Providing drinking water." And that is the drinking-fountain of Sa'd in Al-Madinah.
Chapter 10: The Prohibition Of Guardianship Over An Orphan's Property
"The Messenger of Allah said to me: 'O Abu Dharr, I think that you are weak, and I like for you what I like for myself. Do not accept a position of Amir over two people, and do not agree to be the guardian of an orphan's property.'"
Chapter 11: What The Guardian Is Entitled To Of An Orphan's Property If He Takes Care Of It
"I am poor and I do not have anything, and I have an orphan (under my care)." He said: "Eat from the property of your orphan without being extravagant, wasteful or keeping it as capital for yourself."
"When these Verses were revealed - 'And come not near to the orphan's property, except to improve it,' and 'Verily, those who unjustly eat up the property of orphans' - the people avoided the property and food of the orphans. That caused hardship to the Muslims and they complained about that to the Prophet. Then Allah revealed: 'And they ask you concerning orphans. Say: The best thing is to work honestly in their property, and if you mix your affairs with theirs, then they are your brothers. And Allah knows him who means mischief (e.g. to swallow their property) from him who means good (e.g. to save their property). And if Allah had wished, He could have put you into difficulties.'"