The Chapters on Wills

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) did not leave behind a Dinar nor a Dirham, nor a sheep, nor a camel, and he did not make a will concerning anything."

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ نُمَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي وَأَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ ح وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَعَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، - قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ نُمَيْرٍ - عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ شَقِيقٍ، عَنْ مَسْرُوقٍ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ مَا تَرَكَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم دِينَارًا وَلاَ دِرْهَمًا وَلاَ شَاةً وَلاَ بَعِيرًا وَلاَ أَوْصَى بِشَىْءٍ ‏.‏

"I said to Abdullah bin Abu Awfa: 'Did the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) make a will concerning anything?' He said: 'No.' I said: 'How come he told the Muslims to make wills?' He said: 'He enjoined (them to adhere to) the book of Allah (SWT)." Malik said: "Talhah bin Musarrif said: 'Huzail bin Shurahbil said: "Abu Bakr was granted leadership according to the will of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)?" (Rather) Abu Bakr wished that the found a covenant (in that regard) from Allah's Messenger (ﷺ), so he could fetter his nose with a (camel's) nose ring."

حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، عَنْ مَالِكِ بْنِ مِغْوَلٍ، عَنْ طَلْحَةَ بْنِ مُصَرِّفٍ، قَالَ قُلْتُ لِعَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي أَوْفَى أَوْصَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِشَىْءٍ قَالَ لاَ ‏.‏ قُلْتُ فَكَيْفَ أَمَرَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ بِالْوَصِيَّةِ قَالَ أَوْصَى بِكِتَابِ اللَّهِ ‏.‏

قَالَ مَالِكٌ وَقَالَ طَلْحَةُ بْنُ مُصَرِّفٍ قَالَ الْهُزَيْلُ بْنُ شُرَحْبِيلَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ كَانَ يَتَأَمَّرُ عَلَى وَصِيِّ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَدَّ أَبُو بَكْرٍ أَنَّهُ وَجَدَ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَهْدًا فَخَزَمَ أَنْفَهُ بِخِزَامٍ ‏.‏

"What the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) most enjoined when he was dying and breathing his last was: The prayer; and those whom your right hands possess."

‏ الصَّلاَةَ وَمَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ ‏"

"The last words of the Prophet (ﷺ) were: The prayer; and those whom your right hands prossess."

‏ الصَّلاَةَ وَمَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ ‏"

"The Muslim man has no right to spend two nights, if he has something for which a will should be made, without having a written will with him."

‏ مَا حَقُّ امْرِئٍ مُسْلِمٍ أَنْ يَبِيتَ لَيْلَتَيْنِ وَلَهُ شَىْءٌ يُوصِي فِيهِ إِلاَّ وَوَصِيَّتُهُ مَكْتُوبَةٌ عِنْدَهُ ‏"

"The one who is deprived is the one who is deprived of a will."

‏ الْمَحْرُومُ مَنْ حُرِمَ وَصِيَّتَهُ ‏"

"Whoever dies leaving a will, he dies on the right path and Sunnah, and he dies with piety and witness, and he dies forgiven."

‏ مَنْ مَاتَ عَلَى وَصِيَّةٍ مَاتَ عَلَى سَبِيلٍ وَسُنَّةٍ وَمَاتَ عَلَى تُقًى وَشَهَادَةٍ وَمَاتَ مَغْفُورًا لَهُ ‏"

"The Muslim man has no right to spend two nights, if he has something for which will should be made, without having a written will with him."

‏ مَا حَقُّ امْرِئٍ مُسْلِمٍ يَبِيتُ لَيْلَتَيْنِ وَلَهُ شَىْءٌ يُوصِي بِهِ إِلاَّ وَوَصِيَّتُهُ مَكْتُوبَةٌ عِنْدَهُ ‏"

"Whoever tries to avoid giving the inheritance to his heirs, Allah (SWT) will deprive him of his inheritance in Paradise on the Day of Resurrection."

‏ مَنْ فَرَّ مِنْ مِيرَاثِ وَارِثِهِ قَطَعَ اللَّهُ مِيرَاثَهُ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ‏"

"A man may do the deeds of the people of goodness for seventy years, then when he makes his will, he is unjust in his will, so he ends (his life) with evil deeds and enters Hell. And a man may do the people of evil for seventy years, then he is just in his will, so he ends (his life) with good deeds and enters Paradise." Abu Hurairah said: "Recite, if you wish: "These are the limits (set by) Allah (STW) up to His saying: 'a disgraceful torment'"

حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ الأَزْهَرِ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ بْنُ هَمَّامٍ، أَنْبَأَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنْ أَشْعَثَ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ شَهْرِ بْنِ حَوْشَبٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏‏ إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَيَعْمَلُ بِعَمَلِ أَهْلِ الْخَيْرِ سَبْعِينَ سَنَةً فَإِذَا أَوْصَى حَافَ فِي وَصِيَّتِهِ فَيُخْتَمُ لَهُ بِشَرِّ عَمَلِهِ فَيَدْخُلُ النَّارَ وَإِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَيَعْمَلُ بِعَمَلِ أَهْلِ الشَّرِّ سَبْعِينَ سَنَةً فَيَعْدِلُ فِي وَصِيَّتِهِ فَيُخْتَمُ لَهُ بِخَيْرِ عَمَلِهِ فَيَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ وَاقْرَءُوا إِنْ شِئْتُمْ ‏{تِلْكَ حُدُودُ اللَّهِ}‏ إِلَى قَوْلِهِ {عَذَابٌ مُهِينٌ}‏"

"Whoever makes a will as death approaches, and his will is in accordance with the book of Allah (SWT) it will be an expiation for whatever he did not pay of his Zakah during his lifetime."

‏ مَنْ حَضَرَتْهُ الْوَفَاةُ فَأَوْصَى وَكَانَتْ وَصِيَّتُهُ عَلَى كِتَابِ اللَّهِ كَانَتْ كَفَّارَةً لِمَا تَرَكَ مِنْ زَكَاتِهِ فِي حَيَاتِهِ ‏"

"A man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said: "O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), tell me, which of the people has most right to my good companionship?' He said: 'Yes, by your father, you will certainly be told.' He said: 'Your mother,' He said: 'Then who?' He said: Then your mother.' He said: 'Then who?' He said: Then your mother.' He said: 'Then who?' He said: Then your father.' He said: 'Tell me, O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) about my wealth- how should I give in charity?' He said: 'Yes, by Allah (SWT) you will certainly be told. You should give in charity when you are still healthy and greedy for wealth, hoping for a long life and fearing poverty. Do not tarry until your soul reaches here and you say: "My wealth of for so-and-so," and "My wealth of for so-and-so," and it will be for them even though you dislike that.'"

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا شَرِيكٌ، عَنْ عُمَارَةَ بْنِ الْقَعْقَاعِ، وَابْنِ، شُبْرُمَةَ عَنْ أَبِي زُرْعَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ نَبِّئْنِي بِأَحَقِّ النَّاسِ مِنِّي بِحُسْنِ الصُّحْبَةِ فَقَالَ ‏‏ نَعَمْ وَأَبِيكَ لَتُنَبَّأَنَّ أُمُّكَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ ثُمَّ مَنْ قَالَ ‏"‏ ثُمَّ أُمُّكَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ ثُمَّ مَنْ قَالَ ‏"‏ ثُمَّ أُمُّكَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ ثُمَّ مَنْ قَالَ ‏"‏ ثُمَّ أَبُوكَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ نَبِّئْنِي يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ عَنْ مَالِي كَيْفَ أَتَصَدَّقُ فِيهِ قَالَ ‏"‏ نَعَمْ وَاللَّهِ لَتُنَبَّأَنَّ أَنْ تَصَدَّقَ وَأَنْتَ صَحِيحٌ شَحِيحٌ تَأْمُلُ الْعَيْشَ وَتَخَافُ الْفَقْرَ وَلاَ تُمْهِلْ حَتَّى إِذَا بَلَغَتْ نَفْسُكَ هَاهُنَا قُلْتَ مَالِي لِفُلاَنٍ وَمَالِي لِفُلاَنٍ وَهُوَ لَهُمْ وَإِنْ كَرِهْتَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏"

the Prophet (ﷺ) spat in his palm then pointed to it with his index finger and said: "Allah (SWT) says: 'Do you think you can escape from My punishment, O son of Adam, when I have created you from something like this? When your soul reaches here' - and (the Prophet (ﷺ)) pointed to his throat - 'You say: I give charity.' But it is too late for charity?"

‏ يَقُولُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَنَّى تُعْجِزُنِي ابْنَ آدَمَ وَقَدْ خَلَقْتُكَ مِنْ مِثْلِ هَذِهِ فَإِذَا بَلَغَتْ نَفْسُكَ هَذِهِ - وَأَشَارَ إِلَى حَلْقِهِ - قُلْتَ أَتَصَدَّقُ وَأَنَّى أَوَانُ الصَّدَقَةِ ‏"

"I became sick during the year of the Conquest, and was at death's door. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came to visit me and I said: 'O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), I have a great deal of wealth and no one will inherit from me apart from my daughter. Can I give two thirds of my wealth in charity?' He said: 'No.' I said: 'Then half?' He said: 'No.' I said: 'One third?' He said: One third and one third is a lot. If you leave your heirs rich that is better than leaving them destitute and begging from people."

حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ عَمَّارٍ، وَالْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ الْمَرْوَزِيُّ، وَسَهْلٌ، قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ بْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ عَامِرِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ مَرِضْتُ عَامَ الْفَتْحِ حَتَّى أَشْفَيْتُ عَلَى الْمَوْتِ فَعَادَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقُلْتُ أَىْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ لِي مَالاً كَثِيرًا وَلَيْسَ يَرِثُنِي إِلاَّ ابْنَتِي أَفَأَتَصَدَّقُ بِثُلُثَىْ مَالِي قَالَ ‏‏ لاَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قُلْتُ فَالشَّطْرُ قَالَ ‏"‏ لاَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قُلْتُ فَالثُّلُثُ قَالَ ‏"‏ الثُّلُثُ وَالثُّلُثُ كَثِيرٌ إِنَّكَ أَنْ تَتْرُكَ وَرَثَتَكَ أَغْنِيَاءَ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَنْ تَتْرُكَهُمْ عَالَةً يَتَكَفَّفُونَ النَّاسَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏"

"Allah (SWT) has been charitable with you over the disposal of one third of your wealth at the time of your death, so that you may be able to add to the record of your good deeds."

‏ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَصَدَّقَ عَلَيْكُمْ عِنْدَ وَفَاتِكُمْ بِثُلُثِ أَمْوَالِكُمْ زِيَادَةً لَكُمْ فِي أَعْمَالِكُمْ ‏"

"(Allah says) O son of Adam! I have given you two things which you do not deserve (except by mercy of Allah (SWT)): I allow you to dispose of a share of your wealth when you are on your deathbed, in order to cleanse and purify you, and my slaves pray for you after your life is over."

‏ يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ اثْنَتَانِ لَمْ تَكُنْ لَكَ وَاحِدَةٌ مِنْهُمَا جَعَلْتُ لَكَ نَصِيبًا مِنْ مَالِكَ حِينَ أَخَذْتُ بِكَظَمِكَ لأُطَهِّرَكَ بِهِ وَأُزَكِّيَكَ وَصَلاَةُ عِبَادِي عَلَيْكَ بَعْدَ انْقِضَاءِ أَجَلِكَ ‏"

"I would like the people to reduce (the will) from one third to one quarter, because the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'One third is a lot.'"

‏ الثُّلُثُ كَبِيرٌ - أَوْ كَثِيرٌ - ‏"

"The Prophet (ﷺ) addressed them when he was on his camel. His camel was chewing its cud and its saliva was dripping between my shoulders. He said: 'Allah (SWT) has allocated for each heir his share of the inheritance, so it is not permissible (to make) a bequest for an heir. The child belong to the bed and the adulterer gets the stone. Whoever claims to belong to someone other than his father, or (a freed slave) who claims that his Wala is for other than his Mavali, upon him will be the curse of Allah, the angels and all the people, and no charge nor equitable exchange will be accepted from him." Or he said: "No equitable exchange nor change."

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ هَارُونَ، أَنْبَأَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ أَبِي عَرُوبَةَ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ شَهْرِ بْنِ حَوْشَبٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ غَنْمٍ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ خَارِجَةَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم خَطَبَهُمْ وَهُوَ عَلَى رَاحِلَتِهِ وَإِنَّ رَاحِلَتَهُ لَتَقْصَعُ بِجِرَّتِهَا وَإِنَّ لُغَامَهَا لَيَسِيلُ بَيْنَ كَتِفَىَّ قَالَ ‏‏ إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَسَمَ لِكُلِّ وَارِثٍ نَصِيبَهُ مِنَ الْمِيرَاثِ فَلاَ يَجُوزُ لِوَارِثٍ وَصِيَّةٌ الْوَلَدُ لِلْفِرَاشِ وَلِلْعَاهِرِ الْحَجَرُ وَمَنِ ادَّعَى إِلَى غَيْرِ أَبِيهِ أَوْ تَوَلَّى غَيْرَ مَوَالِيهِ فَعَلَيْهِ لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ وَالْمَلاَئِكَةِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ لاَ يُقْبَلُ مِنْهُ صَرْفٌ وَلاَ عَدْلٌ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ أَوْ قَالَ ‏"‏ عَدْلٌ وَلاَ صَرْفٌ ‏"‏ ‏.‏"

the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say in his sermon, during the year of the Farewell pilgrimage: "Allah (SWT) has given each person who has rights his rights, and there is no bequest for in heir."

‏ إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ أَعْطَى كُلَّ ذِي حَقٍّ حَقَّهُ فَلاَ وَصِيَّةَ لِوَارِثٍ ‏"

"I was under the she-camel of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and its saliva was dripping between my shoulders, and I heard him say: 'Allah (SWT) has given each person who has rights his rights, but there is no bequest for an heir."

‏ إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ أَعْطَى كُلَّ ذِي حَقٍّ حَقَّهُ أَلاَ لاَ وَصِيَّةَ لِوَارِثٍ ‏"

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) ruled that the debts should be paid off before the execution of the will. You recite: '(The distribution in all cases is) after the payment of legacies he may have bequeathed or debts.' The sons of one mother (from the same father) inherit from one another, but not the sons from different mothers (but the same father)."

حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، عَنِ الْحَارِثِ، عَنْ عَلِيٍّ، قَالَ قَضَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِالدَّيْنِ قَبْلَ الْوَصِيَّةِ وَأَنْتُمْ تَقْرَءُونَهَا ‏{مِنْ بَعْدِ وَصِيَّةٍ يُوصِي بِهَا أَوْ دَيْنٍ }‏ وَإِنَّ أَعْيَانَ بَنِي الأُمِّ لَيَتَوَارَثُونَ دُونَ بَنِي الْعَلاَّتِ ‏.‏

"My father died and left behind wealth, but he did not make a will. Will it expiate for him if I give charity on his behalf?" He said: "Yes."

‏ نَعَمْ ‏"

"My mother died unexpectedly and she had not made a will. I think that if she could have spoken, she would have given in charity. Will she have a reward if I give in charity on her behalf, and will I have a reward?" He said: "Yes."

‏ نَعَمْ ‏"

"A man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said: 'I do not have anything and I have no wealth, but I have an orphan (under my care) who has wealth." He said: "Eat from the wealth of your orphan, without being extravagant or use it for trade." He (narrator) said: "And I think he said: 'Do not preserve your wealth using his instead.'"

حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ الأَزْهَرِ، حَدَّثَنَا رَوْحُ بْنُ عُبَادَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا حُسَيْنٌ الْمُعَلِّمُ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ شُعَيْبٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ جَدِّهِ، قَالَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ لاَ أَجِدُ شَيْئًا وَلَيْسَ لِي مَالٌ وَلِي يَتِيمٌ لَهُ مَالٌ قَالَ ‏‏ كُلْ مِنْ مَالِ يَتِيمِكَ غَيْرَ مُسْرِفٍ وَلاَ مُتَأَثِّلٍ مَالاً ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ وَأَحْسِبُهُ قَالَ ‏"‏ وَلاَ تَقِي مَالَكَ بِمَالِهِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏"