30/5. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 3641 — No Bequest to an Heir
Invalidating Bequests To Heirs
No Bequest to an Heir Hadith: Respecting Inheritance Rights
Sunan an-Nasai : 3641
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3641
أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ شَهْرِ بْنِ حَوْشَبٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ غَنْمٍ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ خَارِجَةَ، قَالَ خَطَبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ " إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ أَعْطَى كُلَّ ذِي حَقٍّ حَقَّهُ وَلاَ وَصِيَّةَ لِوَارِثٍ ".
'Amr bin Kharijah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah delivered a Khutbah and said: 'Allah has given every person who has rights his due, and there is no bequest to an heir.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3641In-book reference : Book 30, Hadith 31English translation : Vol. 4, Book 30, Hadith 3671
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3641
The main teaching of this hadith is clear: Allah has given every person with a right what is due to them, and there is no bequest to an heir. The statement links inheritance rights with fairness. An heir already receives a share through the division set by Allah, so the hadith says that an extra bequest is not made for that heir. The wording is short, but its message is direct. A Muslim preparing a will should not use it to change the shares already assigned to heirs. The hadith about no bequest to an heir also reminds families that wealth after death is not divided only by personal preference. Rights must be respected, and a will should not be used to override them.
What we learn from this hadith
- Recognize that heirs have assigned rights in the estate.
- Do not use a bequest to add a separate gift for an heir.
- Treat inheritance as a matter of rights, not only personal preference.
- Prepare a will in a way that respects the shares already given to heirs.
