Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh

رَوَى اَلسَّكُونِيُّ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ آبَائِهِ عَلَيْهِمُ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ اَلْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: "اَلْمَرْأَةُ لاَ يُوصَى إِلَيْهَا لِأَنَّ اَللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ وَ لاٰ تُؤْتُوا اَلسُّفَهٰاءَ أَمْوٰالَكُمُ.

Al-Sakuni narrated from Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (a.s) from his father, Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (a.s), from his forefathers, peace be upon them, who said that the Commander of the Faithful (a.s) said: "A woman should not be appointed as an executor of a will because Allah (swt), the Almighty and Glorious, says: "And do not give the weak-minded your wealth" (Surah An-Nisa 4:5)."

وَ فِي خَبَرٍ آخَرَ: سُئِلَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ عَنْ قَوْلِ اَللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ "وَ لاٰ تُؤْتُوا اَلسُّفَهٰاءَ أَمْوٰالَكُمُ" قَالَ "لاَ تُؤْتُوهَا شَارِبَ اَلْخَمْرِ وَ لاَ اَلنِّسَاءَ" ثُمَّ قَالَ "وَ أَيُّ سَفِيهٍ أَسْفَهُ مِنْ شَارِبِ اَلْخَمْرِ".

In another narration, Abu Jafar Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (a.s), was asked about the saying of Allah (swt), the Almighty and Glorious: "And do not give the weak-minded your wealth." (Qur'an 4:5). Imam (a.s) said: "Do not give it to one who drinks alcohol or to women." Then Imam (a.s) added: "And who is more foolish than a person who drinks alcohol?"

قَالَ مُصَنِّفُ هَذَا الْكِتَابِ رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ إِنَّمَا يَعْنِي كَرَاهَةَ اخْتِيَارِ الْمَرْأَةِ لِلْوَصِيَّةِ فَمَنْ أَوْصَى إِلَيْهَا لَزِمَهَا الْقِيَامُ بِالْوَصِيَّةِ عَلَى مَا تُؤْمَرُ بِهِ وَ يُوصَى إِلَيْهَا فِيهِ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى.

The author of this book, may Allah (swt) have mercy on him, commented: This implies a dislike for appointing a woman as an executor of a will. However, if someone appoints her, she must fulfill the responsibility of the will as instructed. It is also permissible to appoint her for certain matters of the will, if Allah (swt), the Exalted, wills.