30/1. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 2116 — Will Limited to One-Third
What has been Related About Willing One Third
Will in Islam: One-Third and Care for Heirs
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 2116
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 2116
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
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 2116
This famous Hadith teaches about the Islamic will limit and care for heirs. Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas was very ill and had wealth, with only his daughter as heir. He asked if he should will all his wealth, then two-thirds, then half. The Prophet said no each time. When Sa'd asked about one-third, the Prophet said that one-third is much, and that leaving heirs without need is better than leaving them poor and asking people. The Hadith also says that spending on family can bring reward, even a morsel placed in the wife’s mouth. The explanation should stay with these points: do not harm heirs through a will, keep the will measured, and value family spending.
What we learn from this hadith
- A person should not will away all wealth when heirs have rights.
- One-third is mentioned, and the Prophet described even that as much.
- Leaving heirs with enough is better than leaving them in poverty.
- Spending on family with the right aim is rewarded according to this narration.
