Inheritance Law in Islam
Total Hadiths 126
Authentic Hadiths on Islamic Inheritance Law and Wills
These authentic hadiths establish fundamental rules for property distribution and wills in Islam. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) restricted voluntary charitable bequests to a maximum of one-third of a person's total wealth, emphasizing that safeguarding the financial security of one's legal heirs is far better than leaving them poor or begging. According to Islamic scholars, these texts highlight how the dynamic system transitioned away from old customs—where wealth only went to offspring and parents received arbitrary shares by will—to a divine system with fixed fractions. Under these regulations, specified portions are explicitly assigned to husbands, wives, parents, and children to ensure absolute fairness and clear structure.
وَحَدَّثَنِيهِ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْعَلاَءِ أَبُو كُرَيْبٍ الْهَمْدَانِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا زَيْدُ بْنُ حُبَابٍ، عَنْ يَحْيَى، بْنِ أَيُّوبَ عَنِ ابْنِ طَاوُسٍ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ . نَحْوَ حَدِيثِ وُهَيْبٍ وَرَوْحِ بْنِ الْقَاسِمِ .
There is another chain of Tawus reporting like the reports that were mentioned before the previous hadith chain through Tawus (the chains of Wuhaib and Rowh bin Qasim).
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1615dIn-book reference : Book 23, Hadith 5USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 11, Hadith 3931
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، وَأَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ بْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ، ح وَحَدَّثَنِي أَبُو الطَّاهِرِ، وَحَرْمَلَةُ، قَالاَ أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي يُونُسُ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ، بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَبْدُ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ قَالاَ أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، كُلُّهُمْ عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ نَحْوَهُ .
This hadith is narrated on the authority of Zuhri with the same chain of transmitters.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1628bIn-book reference : Book 25, Hadith 7USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 13, Hadith 3992
وَحَدَّثَنِي إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو دَاوُدَ الْحَفَرِيُّ، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ، إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ عَامِرِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ، عَنْ سَعْدٍ، قَالَ دَخَلَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلَىَّ يَعُودُنِي . فَذَكَرَ بِمَعْنَى حَدِيثِ الزُّهْرِيِّ وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْ قَوْلَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي سَعْدِ ابْنِ خَوْلَةَ غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ وَكَانَ يَكْرَهُ أَنْ يَمُوتَ بِالأَرْضِ الَّتِي هَاجَرَ مِنْهَا .
Amir b. Sa'd reported from S'ad (b. Abu Waqqas): Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) visited me to inquire after my health, the rest of the hadith is the same as transmitted on the authority of Zuhri, but lie did not make mention of the words of Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) in regard to Sa'd b. Khaula except this that he said:" He (the Holy Prophet) did not like death in the land from which lie had migrated."
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1628cIn-book reference : Book 25, Hadith 8USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 13, Hadith 3993
وَحَدَّثَنِي زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ مُوسَى، حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرٌ، حَدَّثَنَا سِمَاكُ، بْنُ حَرْبٍ حَدَّثَنِي مُصْعَبُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ مَرِضْتُ فَأَرْسَلْتُ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقُلْتُ دَعْنِي أَقْسِمْ مَالِي حَيْثُ شِئْتُ فَأَبَى . قُلْتُ فَالنِّصْفُ فَأَبَى . قُلْتُ فَالثُّلُثُ قَالَ فَسَكَتَ بَعْدَ الثُّلُثِ . قَالَ فَكَانَ بَعْدُ الثُّلُثُ جَائِزًا .
Mus'ab b. Sa'd reported on the authority of his father. I was ailing. I sent message to Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) saying: Permit me to give away my property as I like. He refused. I (again) said: (Permit me) to give away half. He (again refused). I (again said): Then one-third. He (the Holy Prophet) observed silence after (I had asked permission to give away) one-third. He (the narrater) said: It was then that endowment of one-third became permissible.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1628dIn-book reference : Book 25, Hadith 9USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 13, Hadith 3994
أَخْبَرَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو نُعَيْمٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مِسْعَرٌ، عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي بَعْضُ، آلِ سَعْدٍ قَالَ مَرِضَ سَعْدٌ فَدَخَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أُوصِي بِمَالِي كُلِّهِ قَالَ " لاَ ". وَسَاقَ الْحَدِيثَ.
One from the family of Sa'd narrated: "Sa'd fell sick and the Messenger of Allah entered upon him and he said: 'O Messenger of Allah, shall I bequeath all my money?' He said: 'No.'" And he quoted the same Hadith.
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3629In-book reference : Book 30, Hadith 19English translation : Vol. 4, Book 30, Hadith 3659
حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ بْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ عَامِرِ بْنِ سَعْدِ بْنِ أَبِي وَقَّاصٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ مَرِضْتُ عَامَ الْفَتْحِ مَرَضًا أَشْفَيْتُ مِنْهُ عَلَى الْمَوْتِ فَأَتَانِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَعُودُنِي فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ لِي مَالاً كَثِيرًا وَلَيْسَ يَرِثُنِي إِلاَّ ابْنَتِي أَفَأُوصِي بِمَالِي كُلِّهِ قَالَ " لاَ " . قُلْتُ فَثُلُثَىْ مَالِي قَالَ " لاَ " . قُلْتُ فَالشَّطْرُ قَالَ " لاَ " . قُلْتُ فَالثُّلُثُ قَالَ " الثُّلُثُ وَالثُّلُثُ كَثِيرٌ إِنَّكَ إِنْ تَدَعْ وَرَثَتَكَ أَغْنِيَاءَ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَنْ تَدَعَهُمْ عَالَةً يَتَكَفَّفُونَ النَّاسَ وَإِنَّكَ لَنْ تُنْفِقَ نَفَقَةً إِلاَّ أُجِرْتَ فِيهَا حَتَّى اللُّقْمَةَ تَرْفَعُهَا إِلَى فِي امْرَأَتِكَ " . قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أُخَلَّفُ عَنْ هِجْرَتِي قَالَ " إِنَّكَ لَنْ تُخَلَّفَ بَعْدِي فَتَعْمَلَ عَمَلاً تُرِيدُ بِهِ وَجْهَ اللَّهِ إِلاَّ ازْدَدْتَ بِهِ رِفْعَةً وَدَرَجَةً وَلَعَلَّكَ أَنْ تُخَلَّفَ حَتَّى يَنْتَفِعَ بِكَ أَقْوَامٌ وَيُضَرَّ بِكَ آخَرُونَ اللَّهُمَّ أَمْضِ لأَصْحَابِي هِجْرَتَهُمْ وَلاَ تَرُدَّهُمْ عَلَى أَعْقَابِهِمْ لَكِنِ الْبَائِسُ سَعْدُ ابْنُ خَوْلَةَ يَرْثِي لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْ مَاتَ بِمَكَّةَ " . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ . وَهَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ وَقَدْ رُوِيَ هَذَا الْحَدِيثُ مِنْ غَيْرِ وَجْهٍ عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ أَبِي وَقَّاصٍ . وَالْعَمَلُ عَلَى هَذَا عِنْدَ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ أَنَّهُ لَيْسَ لِلرَّجُلِ أَنْ يُوصِيَ بِأَكْثَرَ مِنَ الثُّلُثِ وَقَدِ اسْتَحَبَّ بَعْضُ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ أَنْ يَنْقُصَ مِنَ الثُّلُثِ لِقَوْلِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " وَالثُّلُثُ كَثِيرٌ " .
Amir bin Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas narrated from his father, who said: "I Was Ill During The Year Of The Conquest (Of Makkah) With An Illness Bringing Me To The Brink Of Death. So The Messenger Of Allah (S.A.W) Came To Visit Me, And I Said: 'O Messenger Of Allah (S.A.W)! Indeed I Have A Great Deal Of Wealth And I Do Not Have Any Heirs Except My Daughter, So Should I Will All Of My Wealth?' He Said: 'No.' I Said: 'Then Two-Thirds Of My Wealth?' He Said: 'No.' I Said: 'Then Half?' He Said: 'No.' I Said: 'Then A Third' He Said: 'No.' A Third And A Third Is Too Much. If You Leave Your Heirs Without Need It Is Better Than To Leave Them In Poverty Begging From The People. Indeed You Do Not Do Any Spending (On Your Family) Except That You Are Rewarded For It, Even The Morsel Of Food You Raise To Your Wife'S Mouth.'" He Said: "I Said: 'Will I Be Left Behind From My Emigration?' He Said: 'You Will Not Be Left Behind After Me,And Do Righteous Deeds Intending Allah'S Face, Except That It Will Add To Your Elevation In Rank. Perhaps You Will Remain Until Some People Benefit From You And Others Will Be Harmed By You. O Allah! Complete The Emigration Of My Companions And Do Not Turn Them On Their Heels. But The Case Of Sa'D Bin Khawlah Is Sad.'" The Messenger Of Allah (S.A.W) Felt Sorry For Him Dying In Makkah.
[1] Meaning, after having made Hijrah , if I die in Makkah, will that reward be lost.Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2116In-book reference : Book 30, Hadith 1English translation : Vol. 4, Book 4, Hadith 2116
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْوَلِيدِ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ عَدِيِّ بْنِ ثَابِتٍ، عَنْ أَبِي حَازِمٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " مَنْ تَرَكَ مَالاً فَلِوَرَثَتِهِ، وَمَنْ تَرَكَ كَلاًّ فَإِلَيْنَا ".
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "If someone leaves some property, it will be for the inheritors, and if he leaves some weak offspring, it will be for us to support them."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 2398In-book reference : Book 43, Hadith 14USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 3, Book 41, Hadith 583
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَامِرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا فُلَيْحٌ، عَنْ هِلاَلِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي عَمْرَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " مَا مِنْ مُؤْمِنٍ إِلاَّ وَأَنَا أَوْلَى بِهِ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالآخِرَةِ اقْرَءُوا إِنْ شِئْتُمْ {النَّبِيُّ أَوْلَى بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْ أَنْفُسِهِمْ} فَأَيُّمَا مُؤْمِنٍ مَاتَ وَتَرَكَ مَالاً فَلْيَرِثْهُ عَصَبَتُهُ مَنْ كَانُوا، وَمَنْ تَرَكَ دَيْنًا أَوْ ضَيَاعًا فَلْيَأْتِنِي فَأَنَا مَوْلاَهُ ".
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "I am closer to the believers than their selves in this world and in the Hereafter, and if you like, you can read Allah's Statement:"The Prophet (ﷺ) is closer to the believers than their own selves." (33.6)So, if a true believer dies and leaves behind some property, it will be for his inheritors (from the father's side), and if he leaves behind some debt to be paid or needy offspring, then they should come to me as I am the guardian of the deceased."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 2399In-book reference : Book 43, Hadith 15USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 3, Book 41, Hadith 584
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ بُكَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ عُقَيْلٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يُؤْتَى بِالرَّجُلِ الْمُتَوَفَّى عَلَيْهِ الدَّيْنُ، فَيَسْأَلُ " هَلْ تَرَكَ لِدَيْنِهِ فَضْلاً ". فَإِنْ حُدِّثَ أَنَّهُ تَرَكَ وَفَاءً صَلَّى، وَإِلاَّ قَالَ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ " صَلُّوا عَلَى صَاحِبِكُمْ ". فَلَمَّا فَتَحَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ الْفُتُوحَ قَالَ " أَنَا أَوْلَى بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْ أَنْفُسِهِمْ، فَمَنْ تُوُفِّيَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَتَرَكَ دَيْنًا فَعَلَىَّ قَضَاؤُهُ، وَمَنْ تَرَكَ مَالاً فَلِوَرَثَتِهِ ".
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
A dead man in debt used to be brought to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) who would ask, "Has he left anything to re pay his debts?" If he was informed that he had left something to cover his debts the Prophet (ﷺ) would offer the funeral prayer for him; otherwise he would say to the Muslims present there), "Offer the funeral prayer for your friend:"but when Allah helped the Prophet (ﷺ) to gain victory (on his expeditions), he said, "I am closer to the Believers than themselves, so. if one of the Believers dies in debt, I will repay it, but if he leaves wealth, it will be for his heirs.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5371In-book reference : Book 69, Hadith 21USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 7, Book 64, Hadith 284
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}
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “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 (SWT) up to His saying: 'a disgraceful torment'”
[1] An-Nisâ' 4:13, 14.Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 2704In-book reference : Book 22, Hadith 10English translation : Vol. 3, Book 22, Hadith 2704
