75/13. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 5659 — One Third Is Enough
Placing the hand on the patient
Hadith About Sa’d’s Illness and Giving One Third in Charity
Sahih Bukhari : 5659
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 5659
حَدَّثَنَا الْمَكِّيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، أَخْبَرَنَا الْجُعَيْدُ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ بِنْتِ سَعْدٍ، أَنَّ أَبَاهَا، قَالَ تَشَكَّيْتُ بِمَكَّةَ شَكْوًا شَدِيدًا، فَجَاءَنِي النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَعُودُنِي، فَقُلْتُ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ إِنِّي أَتْرُكُ مَالاً وَإِنِّي لَمْ أَتْرُكْ إِلاَّ ابْنَةً وَاحِدَةً، فَأُوصِي بِثُلُثَىْ مَالِي وَأَتْرُكُ الثُّلُثَ فَقَالَ " لاَ ". قُلْتُ فَأُوصِي بِالنِّصْفِ وَأَتْرُكُ النِّصْفَ قَالَ " لاَ ". قُلْتُ فَأُوصِي بِالثُّلُثِ وَأَتْرُكُ لَهَا الثُّلُثَيْنِ قَالَ " الثُّلُثُ وَالثُّلُثُ كَثِيرٌ ". ثُمَّ وَضَعَ يَدَهُ عَلَى جَبْهَتِهِ، ثُمَّ مَسَحَ يَدَهُ عَلَى وَجْهِي وَبَطْنِي ثُمَّ قَالَ " اللَّهُمَّ اشْفِ سَعْدًا وَأَتْمِمْ لَهُ هِجْرَتَهُ ". فَمَا زِلْتُ أَجِدُ بَرْدَهُ عَلَى كَبِدِي فِيمَا يُخَالُ إِلَىَّ حَتَّى السَّاعَةِ.
Sa'd Narrated from:
I became seriously ill at Mecca and the Prophet (ﷺ) came to visit me. I said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! I shall leave behind me a good fortune, but my heir is my only daughter; shall I bequeath two third of my property to be spent in charity and leave one third (for my heir)?" He said, "No." I said, "Shall I bequeath half and leave half?" He said, "No." I said, "Shall I bequeath one third and leave two thirds?" He said, "One third is alright, though even one third is too much."Then he placed his hand on his forehead and passed it over my face and `Abdomen and said, "O Allah! Cure Sa`d and complete his emigration." I feel as if I have been feeling the coldness of his hand on my liver ever since.
[1] To complete his emigration means to let him return to Al-Madīna and die there rather than in Makkah whence he had emigrated.Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5659In-book reference : Book 75, Hadith 19USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 7, Book 70, Hadith 563
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 5659
This Hadith shows Sa’d رضي الله عنه becoming seriously ill in Mecca. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم came to visit him. Sa’d said he had wealth and only one daughter as heir. He asked if he could give two thirds of his wealth in charity and leave one third. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said no. He then asked about half, and the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم again said no. When he asked about one third, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said one third was allowed, though even one third was much. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم then placed his hand on Sa’d’s forehead, wiped his face and abdomen, and made dua for his cure and completion of his emigration. This Hadith about one third in charity teaches care in wills and concern for heirs.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم visited Sa’d رضي الله عنه during serious illness.
- Sa’d was guided not to give away too much of his wealth through a will.
- One third was allowed, though the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said even that was much.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم made dua for Sa’d’s cure and completion of his emigration.
