Wills
Total Hadiths 2
Prophetic Hadiths and Core Rulings on Making Wills in Islam
These authentic prophetic hadiths establish essential legal and ethical frameworks regarding the distribution of wealth, inheritance, and wills in Islam. During the Farewell Pilgrimage, when the companion Sa`d fell severely ill and sought to leave his substantial wealth to charity since he only had one daughter, the Prophet explicitly restricted the maximum amount allowed for a will or alms to one-third of the total property. The Prophet emphasized that leaving one's heirs financially secure is far better than leaving them poor and relying on others, while assuring that any spending done for the sake of Allah—even a morsel of food given to a spouse—is richly rewarded. Additionally, text from Aisha refutes false claims regarding a secret political succession will, noting the Prophet passed away peacefully in her arms without declaring such an appointment.
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ يُونُسَ، حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ ـ هُوَ ابْنُ سَعْدٍ ـ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عَامِرِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ عَادَنِي النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي حَجَّةِ الْوَدَاعِ مِنْ وَجَعٍ، أَشْفَيْتُ مِنْهُ عَلَى الْمَوْتِ، فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ بَلَغَ بِي مِنَ الْوَجَعِ مَا تَرَى، وَأَنَا ذُو مَالٍ وَلاَ يَرِثُنِي إِلاَّ ابْنَةٌ لِي وَاحِدَةٌ أَفَأَتَصَدَّقُ بِثُلُثَىْ مَالِي قَالَ " لاَ ". قُلْتُ أَفَأَتَصَدَّقُ بِشَطْرِهِ قَالَ " لاَ ". قُلْتُ فَالثُّلُثِ قَالَ " وَالثُّلُثُ كَثِيرٌ، إِنَّكَ أَنْ تَذَرَ وَرَثَتَكَ أَغْنِيَاءَ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَنْ تَذَرَهُمْ عَالَةً يَتَكَفَّفُونَ النَّاسَ، وَلَسْتَ تُنْفِقُ نَفَقَةً تَبْتَغِي بِهَا وَجْهَ اللَّهِ إِلاَّ أُجِرْتَ بِهَا، حَتَّى اللُّقْمَةَ تَجْعَلُهَا فِي فِي امْرَأَتِكَ ". قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ آأُخَلَّفُ بَعْدَ أَصْحَابِي قَالَ " إِنَّكَ لَنْ تُخَلَّفَ فَتَعْمَلَ عَمَلاً تَبْتَغِي بِهِ وَجْهَ اللَّهِ إِلاَّ ازْدَدْتَ بِهِ دَرَجَةً وَرِفْعَةً، وَلَعَلَّكَ تُخَلَّفُ حَتَّى يَنْتَفِعَ بِكَ أَقْوَامٌ وَيُضَرَّ بِكَ آخَرُونَ، اللَّهُمَّ أَمْضِ لأَصْحَابِي هِجْرَتَهُمْ، وَلاَ تَرُدَّهُمْ عَلَى أَعْقَابِهِمْ. لَكِنِ الْبَائِسُ سَعْدُ ابْنُ خَوْلَةَ رَثَى لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْ تُوُفِّيَ بِمَكَّةَ ".
Sa'd Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) visited me during Hajjat ul-Wada` while I was suffering from a disease which brought me to the verge of death. I said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! My ailment has reached such a (bad) state as you see, and I have much wealth, but I have no-one to inherit from me except my only daughter. Shall I give 2/3 of my property as alms (in charity)?"The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "No," I said, "Shall I give half of my property as alms?" He said, "No." I said, "(Shall I give) 1/3 of it? " He replied, " 1/3, and even 1/3 is too much. It is better for you to leave your inheritors wealthy rather than to leave them poor, begging people (for their sustenance); and whatever you spend for Allah's Sake, you will get reward for it even for the morsel of food which you put in your wives mouth."I said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Should I remain (in Mecca) behind my companions (who are going with you to Medina)?" The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "If you remain behind, any good deed which you will do for Allah's Sake, will upgrade and elevate you. May be you will live longer so that some people may benefit by you and some other (i.e. infidels) may get harmed by you."The Prophet (ﷺ) then added, "O Allah! Complete the Migration of my companions and do not turn them on their heels. But the poor Sa`d bin Khaula (not the above mentioned Sa`d) (died in Mecca)." Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) pitied Sa`d for he died in Mecca.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4409In-book reference : Book 64, Hadith 431USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 5, Book 59, Hadith 693
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا أَزْهَرُ، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ عَوْنٍ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنِ الأَسْوَدِ، قَالَ ذُكِرَ عِنْدَ عَائِشَةَ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَوْصَى إِلَى عَلِيٍّ، فَقَالَتْ مَنْ قَالَهُ لَقَدْ رَأَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَإِنِّي لَمُسْنِدَتُهُ إِلَى صَدْرِي، فَدَعَا بِالطَّسْتِ فَانْخَنَثَ فَمَاتَ، فَمَا شَعَرْتُ، فَكَيْفَ أَوْصَى إِلَى عَلِيٍّ
Al-Aswad Narrated from:
It was mentioned in the presence of `Aisha that the Prophet (ﷺ) had appointed `Ali as successor by will. Thereupon she said, "Who said so? I saw the Prophet, while I was supporting him against my chest. He asked for a tray, and then fell on one side and expired, and I did not feel it. So how (do the people say) he appointed `Ali as his successor?"
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4459In-book reference : Book 64, Hadith 475USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 5, Book 59, Hadith 736
