30.

The Book of Wills

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كتاب الوصايا

Amir bin Sa'd (narrated) from his father that he fell sick in Makkah and the Messenger of Allah came to him. When Sa'd saw him, he wept and said: O Messenger of Allah, am I to die in the land from which I emigrated? He said: No, if Allah wills. He said: O Messenger of Allah, shall I bequeath all of my wealth in the cause of Allah? He said: No. He said: Two-thirds? He said: No. He said: Half of it? He said: No. He said: One-third of it? The Messenger of Allah said: One-third, and one-third is a lot. If you leave your sons independent of means that is better than if you leave them poor, holding out their hands to people.

It was narrated that Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas said: The Messenger of Allah visited me when I was sick, and said: 'Have you made a will?' I said: 'Yes.' He said: 'How much?' I said: 'For all my wealth to be given in the cause of Allah.' He said: 'What have you left for your children?' I said: 'They are rich (independent of means).' He said: 'Bequeath one-tenth.' And we kept discussing it until he said: 'Bequeath one-third, and one-third is much or large.'

It was narrated from Sa'd that the Prophet visited him when he was sick, and he said: O Messenger of Allah, shall I bequeath all of my wealth? He said: No. He said: Half? He said: No. He said: One-third? He said: One-third, and one-third is much or large.

It was narrated from 'Aishah that the Messenger of Allah came to visit Sa'd (when he was sick). Sa'd said to him: O Messenger of Allah, shall I bequeath two-thirds of my wealth? He said: No. He said: Shall I bequeath half? He said: No. He said: Shall I bequeath one-third? He said: Yes, one-third, and one-third is much or large. If you leave your heirs independent of means that is better than if you leave them poor, holding out their hands.

It was narrated that Ibn 'Abbas said: If the people were to reduce (their bequests) to one-quarter (of their wealth, that would be better), because the Messenger of Allah said: 'One-third, and one-third is much or large.'

It was narrated from Muhammad bin Sa'd, from his father Sa'd bin Malik, that the Prophet came to him when he was sick and he said: I do not have any children apart from one daughter. Shall I bequeath all my wealth? The Prophet said: No. He said: Shall I bequeath half of it? The Prophet said: No. He said: Shall I bequeath one-third of it? He said: One-third, and one-third is much or large.

Jabir bin 'Abdullah narrated that his father was martyred on the Day of Uhud, and he left behind six daughters, and some outstanding debts. When the time to pick the dates came, I went to the Messenger of Allah and said: You know that my father was martyred on the Day of Uhud and he left behind a great deal of debt. I would like the creditors to see you. He said: Go and pile up the dates in separate heaps. I did that, then I called him. When they saw him, it was as if they started to put pressure on me at that time. When he saw what they were doing, he went around the biggest heap three times, then he sat on it then said: Call your companions (the creditors). Then he kept on weighing them out for them, until Allah cleared all my father's debts. I am pleased that Allah cleared my father's debts without even a single date being missed.