30/3. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 3631 — From One-Tenth to One-Third in a Will
Bequeathing One-Third
How Much Should an Islamic Will Be?
Sunan an-Nasai : 3631
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3631
أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ السَّائِبِ، عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ أَبِي وَقَّاصٍ، قَالَ عَادَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي مَرَضِي فَقَالَ " أَوْصَيْتَ ". قُلْتُ نَعَمْ. قَالَ " بِكَمْ ". قُلْتُ بِمَالِي كُلِّهِ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ. قَالَ " فَمَا تَرَكْتَ لِوَلدِكَ ". قُلْتُ هُمْ أَغْنِيَاءُ. قَالَ " أَوْصِ بِالْعُشْرِ ". فَمَا زَالَ يَقُولُ وَأَقُولُ حَتَّى قَالَ " أَوْصِ بِالثُّلُثِ وَالثُّلُثُ كَثِيرٌ أَوْ كَبِيرٌ ".
Sa'd b. Abu Waqqas Narrated from:
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.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3631In-book reference : Book 30, Hadith 21English translation : Vol. 4, Book 30, Hadith 3661
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3631
This hadith records a discussion between Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas and the Messenger of Allah about how much should be placed in a will. Sa'd had made a will for all his wealth in the cause of Allah. The Prophet asked what he had left for his children. Sa'd answered that they were rich and independent of means. The Prophet first told him to bequeath one-tenth. Sa'd continued discussing the amount until the Prophet said to bequeath one-third, adding that one-third is much or large. The narration shows a careful conversation rather than a rushed answer. Its focus is the size of an Islamic will and the position of the children. Even when the children were described as wealthy, the final amount stated was one-third, not the whole estate.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet asked what Sa'd had left for his children.
- Sa'd said his children were financially independent.
- The amount discussed moved from one-tenth to one-third.
- One-third was still described as much or large.
