Chapter

The Book of Wills

كتاب الوصايا

Arabic Text

أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْوَلِيدِ الْفَحَّامُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رَبِيعَةَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَتَى سَعْدًا يَعُودُهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ سَعْدٌ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أُوصِي بِثُلُثَىْ مَالِي قَالَ ‏"‏ لاَ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالَ فَأُوصِي بِالنِّصْفِ قَالَ ‏"‏ لاَ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالَ فَأُوصِي بِالثُّلُثِ قَالَ ‏"‏ نَعَمِ الثُّلُثَ وَالثُّلُثُ كَثِيرٌ أَوْ كَبِيرٌ إِنَّكَ أَنْ تَدَعَ وَرَثَتَكَ أَغْنِيَاءَ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَنْ تَدَعَهُمْ فُقَرَاءَ يَتَكَفَّفُونَ ‏"‏‏.‏

English Translation

It was narrated from 'Aishah that the Messenger of Allah came to visit Sa'd (when he was sick). Sa'd said to him:

"O Messenger of Allah, shall I bequeath two-thirds of my wealth?" He said: "No." He said: "Shall I bequeath half?" He said: "No." He said: "Shall I bequeath one-third?" He said: "Yes, one-third, and one-third is much or large. If you leave your heirs independent of means that is better than if you leave them poor, holding out their hands."