The Will and What it Must Consist of

The Witness for the Will

A Man Makes a Will and Appoints an Executor but he Refuses to Accept it

The Owner is more Rightful to his Property as Long as he is Living

Making a Will for the Heir

The Matters for which one can Make a Will and what is Preferable in the Issue

Another Chapter

A Man Makes a Will, then Cancels it

If the Beneficiary of a Will dies before the Death of the Testator or before Taking Possession

Executing the Will as it Requires

A Will for Setting free Slaves, Charity or al-Hajj

The Executor of the Will must Correct the Possible Violation of the Law in the Will

An Executor of the Will is held Responsible for Changing a Lawful Will

Al-Mudabbar (the Slave for whose Freedom Death of the Master is a Condition) is from One Third of the Legacy

First the Shroud, then Debts, then Will is paid for from the Legacy

The Will and Debts

One Who Sets Free a Slave and He is Indebted

The Will about a Contracted Slave

The Will of Immature Boys and Girls, the Lawful and Unlawful Matters in it

Will in Favor of Mothers of Children

The Matters Permissible in Endowment, Charity, Gift, Present, Providing Conditional Housing and Matters Permissible or otherwise for a Child and others

The Will for a Part of One’s Assets

The Will about Something of One’s Legacy

The Will about a Share of One’s Legacy

One in His Illness Confesses His Indebtedness to One of his Heirs

When certain ones of the Heirs Confirm Freeing of a Slave or Debts

The Case of One Who Leaves very Little Legacy with a Larger Amount of Debt and Dependents

The Adults whose Will is not Acceptable

Distribution of What is Bequeathed To Relatives

The Case of one who Makes a Bequest for an Adult with whom a Child must Share

The Case of One’s Appointing Two Executors for the Will, Each of whom Deals with a Certain Portion of the Legacy

Charities of the Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, Fatimah and ‘A’immah, ‘Alayhim al-Salam

Things that Reach a Deceased after his Death

The Rare Ahadith

The Case of One who Dies without a Will, Leaves behind Small Heirs and it is Sold upon Him

The Executor of the Will Hands over the Assets of Children who were Small, now Adults, but they Refuse to Take Charge, the Children who Become Adults but are not Found to be of Proper Understanding, the Limit of Adulthood

The Ordained Shares

The Legacy Comes from the Share of the One Nearest in Relationship to Him and that the Owner of Ordained Share is more Deserving than those who do not have any Ordained Share

Obligations are not Fulfilled without the Sword

Invalidity of Deficiency (in the Ordained Shares)

Another Chapter on Invalidity of al-‘Awl (deficiency or excess) and the Ordained Shares are not more than Six

Knowing to Avoid Deficiency

With the Existence of a Child and Parents no one Else Inherits Except a Husband and Wife

The Reason Why Ordained Shares are not more than Six

The Reason Why a Male’s Share is Twice the Share of a Female

The Legacy is Just for the Eldest Son

The Share of Children from the Legacy

The Share of Grandchildren in the legacy

Inheritance of Parents

Inheritance of Parents with Brothers and Sisters from the Father and Brothers and Sisters from the Mother

The Inheritance of a Son with both Parents

Inheritance of the Son, with Husband and Woman and Both Parents

Inheritance of Parents with Husband and Wife

AI-Kalalah (Burdensome one’s in Inheritance)

Inheritance of Brothers and Sisters with Children

Inheritance of the Grandfather

Brothers from a Mother with the Grandfather

Son of a Brother with a Grandfather

Inheritance of Relatives

A Woman Leaves Behind Just her Husband

A Deceased Leaves behind Just his Wife

Women do not Inherit Anything from Real Property

Dispute of Man and Woman over Household Items

Inheritance of a Boy and a Girl who are not yet Mature

The Inheritance of a Married and Mature Female before going to Bed

Inheritance of Women Divorced during Illness or without Illness

Inheritance of Relatives with Mawali

Inheritance of People Drowned and because of the Collapse of a Structure on them

Inheritance of People Killed, those who Inherit and those who do not Inherit from the Wergild

The Inheritance of a Killer

Inheritance of People of other Religions

Another Chapter on Inheritance of People of other Religions

The Inheritance of the People of Religion among them according to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Holy Prophet

If a Deceased Leaves Behind Muslim and non-Muslim Heirs

Inheritance of Slaves

The Free and Slaves do not Inherit each other

Deceased leaves Behind One Free and One Owned Heir

The Inheritance Due to Special Contract

Inheritance of an Apostate

Inheritance of One who is Lost

Inheritance of the Crying Newborn Child

Inheritance of Hermaphrodite

Inheritance of the Child of Parents who Condemn Each other (al -Mula‘anah (condemnation))

Another Chapter about the Child of Mula‘anah (condemnation)

Inheritance of a Child from Fornication

The Case of a Child Carried away from his Birthplace ( al-Hamil )

Confirming of Certain Heir a Debt

1- عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ ثَعْلَبَةَ بْنِ مَيْمُونٍ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ السَّابَاطِيِّ عَنْ عَمَّارِ بْنِ مُوسَى أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ صَاحِبُ الْمَالِ أَحَقُّ بِمَالِهِ مَا دَامَ فِيهِ شَيْ‏ءٌ مِنَ الرُّوحِ يَضَعُهُ حَيْثُ شَاءَ.

1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Hassan ibn Ali from Tha’labah ibn Maymun from abu al-Hassan al-Sabady from ‘Ammar ibn Musa who has narrated the following: “I once heard abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘The owner of the asset has a greater degree of rights in his assets as long as there is some spirit in him. He can do about it whatever he wants.”’ 

2- أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَسْبَاطٍ عَنْ ثَعْلَبَةَ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ عُمَرَ بْنِ شَدَّادٍ الأزْدِيِّ وَالسَّرِيِّ جَمِيعاً عَنْ عَمَّارِ بْنِ مُوسَى عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ الرَّجُلُ أَحَقُّ بِمَالِهِ مَا دَامَ فِيهِ الرُّوحُ إِنْ أَوْصَى بِهِ كُلِّهِ فَهُوَ جَائِزٌ لَهُ.

2. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from Ali ibn al-Hassan from Ali ibn Asbat from Tha‘labah from abu al-Hassan ‘Umar ibn Shaddad al-Azdiy and al-Sariy all from ‘Ammar ibn Musa who has narrated the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘A man is more rightful to his assets as long as there is the spirit in him and if he makes a will about all of it, it is permissible.’” 

3- أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ أَبِي بَكْرِ بْنِ أَبِي السَّمَّالِ الأسَدِيِّ عَمَّنْ أَخْبَرَهُ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ الْمَيِّتُ أَوْلَى بِمَالِهِ مَا دَامَ فِيهِ الرُّوحُ.

3. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from Ali ibn al-Hassan from Ibrahim ibn abu Bakr al-Samal al-Asadiy from those who narrated to him who has narrated the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘One who is about to die is more rightful to his assets as long as he is alive.’” 

4- أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ أَخِيهِ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ سَعِيدٍ قَالَ أَوْصَى أَخُو رُومِيِّ بْنِ عُمَرَ أَنَّ جَمِيعَ مَالِهِ لأبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ عَمْرٌو فَأَخْبَرَنِي رُومِيٌّ أَنَّهُ وَضَعَ الْوَصِيَّةَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَقَالَ هَذَا مَا أَوْصَى لَكَ بِهِ أَخِي وَجَعَلْتُ أَقْرَأُ عَلَيْهِ فَيَقُولُ لِي قِفْ وَيَقُولُ احْمِلْ كَذَا وَوَهَبْتُ لَكَ كَذَا حَتَّى أَتَيْتُ عَلَى الْوَصِيَّةِ فَنَظَرْتُ فَإِذَا إِنَّمَا أَخَذَ الثُّلُثَ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ أَمَرْتَنِي أَنْ أَحْمِلَ إِلَيْكَ الثُّلُثَ وَوَهَبْتَ لِيَ الثُّلُثَيْنِ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ قُلْتُ أَبِيعُهُ وَأَحْمِلُهُ إِلَيْكَ قَالَ لا عَلَى الْمَيْسُورِ عَلَيْكَ لا تَبِعْ شَيْئاً.

4. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from Ali ibn al-Hassan from his brother, Ahmad ibn al-Hassan from ‘Amr ibn Sa‘id who has narrated the following: “The brother of Romiy ibn ‘Umar made a will that said, ‘All of his assets must be given to abu Ja‘far (a.s.) . ’ ‘Amr has said that Romi narrated to me saying, ‘I placed the assets before abu Ja‘far (a.s.), and said, “This is what my brother has given to you in his will” and I began to read it for him.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Wait; take this, I have given it to you as a gift and deliver that.’ I continued until the end of the will and found that he (the Imam) had taken only one-third. I then asked, ‘Have you commanded me to deliver to you one-third and keep two-thirds?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, that it is correct.’ I then asked, ‘Can I sell them and bring them to you?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘No, whenever possible for you do not sell anything.’” 

5- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى وَغَيْرُهُ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ عَنْ يَعْقُوبَ بْنِ يَزِيدَ عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ الْمُبَارَكِ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ جَبَلَةَ عَنْ سَمَاعَةَ قَالَ قُلْتُ لأبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) الرَّجُلُ يَكُونُ لَهُ الْوَلَدُ أَيَسَعُهُ أَنْ يَجْعَلَ مَالَهُ لِقَرَابَتِهِ قَالَ هُوَ مَالُهُ يَصْنَعُ بِهِ مَا شَاءَ إِلَى أَنْ يَأْتِيَهُ الْمَوْتُ.

5. Muhammad ibn Yahya and others has narrated from Muhammad ibn Ahmad from Ya’qub ibn Yazid from Yahya ibn al-Mubarak from ‘Abd Allah ibn Jabalah from Sama’ah who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who has children; if he can assign his assets to his relatives. He (the Imam) said, ‘They are his assets, he can place it wherever he wants until death comes upon him.’” 

6- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ شَاذَانَ وَأَبُو عَلِيٍّ الأشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ جَمِيعاً عَنْ صَفْوَانَ عَنْ مُرَازِمٍ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فِي الرَّجُلِ يُعْطِي الشَّيْ‏ءَ مِنْ مَالِهِ فِي مَرَضِهِ فَقَالَ إِذَا أَبَانَ فِيهِ فَهُوَ جَائِزٌ وَإِنْ أَوْصَى بِهِ فَهُوَ مِنَ الثُّلُثِ.

6. Muhammad ibn ’Isma’il has narrated from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan from and Abu Ali al-Ash‘ariy has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar all from Safwan from Murazim from certain persons of our people who has narrated the following: “About the case of a man who gives a certain amount of his property during his illness, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If he keeps such assets aside, it then is permissible, but if he has only said so in his will then it is from one-third of his legacy.’” 

7- حُمَيْدُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سَمَاعَةَ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ مُرَازِمٍ عَنْ عَمَّارٍ السَّابَاطِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ الْمَيِّتُ أَحَقُّ بِمَالِهِ مَا دَامَ فِيهِ الرُّوحُ يُبِينُ بِهِ قَالَ نَعَمْ فَإِنْ أَوْصَى بِهِ فَإِنْ تَعَدَّى فَلَيْسَ لَهُ إِلا الثُّلُثُ.

7. Humayd ibn Ziyad has narrated from al-Hassan ibn Muhammad ibn Sama‘ah from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Murazim from ‘Ammar al- Sabatiy who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who is about to die; if he is more rightful to his assets as long as there is spirit in him. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, that is right but if he makes a will and it is more (than the one-third) it applies to one-third of his legacy only.”’ 

8- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ الْمُبَارَكِ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ جَبَلَةَ عَنْ سَمَاعَةَ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ الرَّجُلُ لَهُ الْوَلَدُ أَيَسَعُهُ أَنْ يَجْعَلَ مَالَهُ لِقَرَابَتِهِ فَقَالَ هُوَ مَالُهُ يَصْنَعُ بِهِ مَا شَاءَ إِلَى أَنْ يَأْتِيَهُ الْمَوْتُ.

8. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Hassan from ‘Abd Allah ibn al-Mubarak from ‘Abd Allah ibn Jabalah from Sama‘ah from abu Basir who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who has a son; if he can give his assets to his relatives. He (the Imam) said, ‘They are his assets, he can do to it whatever he wants until death comes upon him.’” 

9- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ أَبِي الْمَحَامِلِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ الإنْسَانُ أَحَقُّ بِمَالِهِ مَا دَامَ الرُّوحُ فِي بَدَنِهِ.

9. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ‘ Uthman ibn Sa‘id from abu al-Mahamil who has narrated the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘A man is more rightful to his assets as long as there is spirit in his body.’” 

10- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ الْمُبَارَكِ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ جَبَلَةَ عَنْ سَمَاعَةَ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ الرَّجُلُ لَهُ الْوَلَدُ أَيَسَعُهُ أَنْ يَجْعَلَ مَالَهُ لِقَرَابَتِهِ فَقَالَ هُوَ مَالُهُ يَصْنَعُ بِهِ مَا شَاءَ إِلَى أَنْ يَأْتِيَهُ الْمَوْتُ إِنَّ لِصَاحِبِ الْمَالِ أَنْ يَعْمَلَ بِمَالِهِ مَا شَاءَ مَا دَامَ حَيّاً إِنْ شَاءَ وَهَبَهُ وَإِنْ شَاءَ تَصَدَّقَ بِهِ وَإِنْ شَاءَ تَرَكَهُ إِلَى أَنْ يَأْتِيَهُ الْمَوْتُ فَإِنْ أَوْصَى بِهِ فَلَيْسَ لَهُ إِلا الثُّلُثُ إِلا أَنَّ الْفَضْلَ فِي أَنْ لا يُضَيِّعَ مَنْ يَعُولُهُ وَلا يُضِرَّ بِوَرَثَتِهِ. وَقَدْ رُوِيَ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) قَالَ لِرَجُلٍ مِنَ الأنْصَارِ أَعْتَقَ مَمَالِيكَ لَهُ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ غَيْرُهُمْ فَعَابَهُ النَّبِيُّ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَقَالَ تَرَكَ صِبْيَةً صِغَاراً يَتَكَفَّفُونَ النَّاسَ. 

10. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from ‘Abd Allah ibn al-Mubarak from ‘Abd Allah ibn Jabalah from Sama‘ah from abu Basir who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who has a son; if he can give his assets to his relatives. He (the Imam) said, ‘They are his assets, he can do to them whatever he wants until death comes upon him; the owner can do whatever he wants as long as he is alive. He can give it as a gift or charity, or he can leave it until his death comes. If he makes a will it only applies to one-third of his legacy. It is more excellent for him not to neglect those who are his dependent and he must not harm the heirs. It is narrated that the Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, once criticized a man of al-Ansar who set free his slaves and no one was left for him, saying, ‘He has left behind small children to beg from people.’” 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 7

Book 1, Chapter 4