30/3. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 3632 — One-Third Is the Limit Discussed
Bequeathing One-Third
One-Third Will Hadith: A Clear Bequest Limit
Sunan an-Nasai : 3632
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3632
أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ سَعْدٍ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَادَهُ فِي مَرَضِهِ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أُوصِي بِمَالِي كُلِّهِ قَالَ " لاَ ". قَالَ فَالشَّطْرَ قَالَ " لاَ ". قَالَ فَالثُّلُثَ قَالَ " الثُّلُثَ وَالثُّلُثُ كَثِيرٌ أَوْ كَبِيرٌ ".
Sa'd Narrated from:
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."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3632In-book reference : Book 30, Hadith 22English translation : Vol. 4, Book 30, Hadith 3662
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3632
This hadith presents the one-third will hadith in a very direct form. The Prophet visited Sa'd while he was ill. Sa'd asked whether he could bequeath all his wealth, and the Prophet said no. He asked about half, and the Prophet again said no. He then asked about one-third. The Prophet answered that one-third is much or large. The report is short and focused entirely on the amount of the bequest. It does not include the longer explanation about heirs found in some related narrations, so this explanation stays with the supplied wording. The practical message is that all the wealth and half were rejected, while one-third was accepted as the amount under discussion. Even that amount was described as substantial rather than small.
What we learn from this hadith
- A bequest of the whole estate was refused.
- A bequest of half was also refused.
- One-third was accepted in the discussion.
- The Prophet described one-third as much or large.
