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- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ يُونُسَ عَنْ سَيْفِ بْنِ عَمِيرَةَ عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ كَانَ عَلِيٌّ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ إِذَا مَاتَ ابْنُ الْمُلاعَنَةِ وَلَهُ إِخْوَةٌ قُسِمَ مَالُهُ عَلَى سِهَامِ اللهِ.

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus from Sayf ibn ’Amirah from Mansur who has narrated the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin has said, ‘If a child whose parents have condemned each other dies, leaving behind brothers, his legacy is distributed among them according to the shares that Allah has ordained.’” 

2- أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الأشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ بَكْرٍ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَنَّ مِيرَاثَ وَلَدِ الْمُلاعَنَةِ لأمِّهِ فَإِنْ كَانَتْ أُمُّهُ لَيْسَتْ بِحَيَّةٍ فَلأقْرَبِ النَّاسِ إِلَى أُمِّهِ أَخْوَالِهِ. مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ بَكْرٍ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) مِثْلَهُ.

2. Abu Ali a l-Ash ‘ariy has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan from Musa ibn Bakr from Zurarah who has narrated the following: “Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said the legacy of a child from parents who condemn each other belongs to his mother if she is living and if she is not living then it belongs to the people nearest to her, like maternal uncle.’” Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Musa ibn Bakr from Ja‘far (a.s.), a similar Hadith,’” 

3- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ حَمَّادٍ عَنِ الْحَلَبِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَنَّهُ قَالَ فِي الْمُلاعِنِ إِنْ أَكْذَبَ نَفْسَهُ قَبْلَ اللِّعَانِ رُدَّتْ إِلَيْهِ امْرَأَتُهُ وَضُرِبَ الْحَدَّ وَإِنْ أَبَى لاعَنَ وَلَمْ تَحِلَّ لَهُ أَبَداً وَإِنْ قَذَفَ رَجُلٌ امْرَأَتَهُ كَانَ عَلَيْهِ الْحَدُّ وَإِنْ مَاتَ وَلَدُهُ وَرِثَهُ أَخْوَالُهُ فَإِنِ ادَّعَاهُ أَبُوهُ لَحِقَ بِهِ وَإِنْ مَاتَ وَرِثَهُ الابْنُ وَلَمْ يَرِثْهُ الأبُ.

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hammad from al-Halabiy who has narrated the following: “This is about the case of a man who decides to proceed with condemnation. He then calls himself as lying before the process of condemnation. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘His woman is returned to him, he is made to suffer the applicable penalty; but if he refuses and proceeds with condemnation process she will never become lawful for him. If a man accuses his woman, he must suffer the penalty. If his son dies, his maternal uncle inherits him. If his father claims him, he is joined with him. If he dies his son inherits him but his father cannot inherit him (the son).”’ 

4- الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِهِ عَنْ أَبَانِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنْ وَلَدِ الْمُلاعَنَةِ مَنْ يَرِثُهُ قَالَ أُمُّهُ فَقُلْتُ إِنْ مَاتَتْ أُمُّهُ مَنْ يَرِثُهُ قَالَ أَخْوَالُهُ.

4. Al-Husayn from Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla’ ibn Muhammad from certain persons of his people from Aban ibn ‘Uthman from ‘Abd al- Rahman ibn abu ‘Abd Allah who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a child of Mula‘anah and about who inherits such a child. He (the Imam) said, ‘The mother inherits the legacy of such child.’ I then asked, ‘Who inherits such child if the mother dies?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘The maternal uncle inherits the legacy of such child.’” 

5- عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي نَجْرَانَ عَنْ مُثَنًّى الْحَنَّاطِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنْ رَجُلٍ لاعَنَ امْرَأَتَهُ وَانْتَفَى مِنْ وَلَدِهَا ثُمَّ أَكْذَبَ نَفْسَهُ بَعْدَ الْمُلاعَنَةِ وَزَعَمَ أَنَّ وَلَدَهَا وَلَدُهُ هَلْ تُرَدُّ عَلَيْهِ قَالَ لا وَلا كَرَامَةَ لا تُرَدُّ عَلَيْهِ وَلا تَحِلُّ لَهُ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ قَالَ وَسَأَلْتُهُ مَنْ يَرِثُ الْوَلَدَ قَالَ أُمُّهُ فَقُلْتُ أَ رَأَيْتَ إِنْ مَاتَتِ الأمُّ فَوَرِثَهَا الْغُلامُ ثُمَّ مَاتَ الْغُلامُ بَعْدُ مَنْ يَرِثُهُ قَالَ أَخْوَالُهُ فَقُلْتُ إِذَا أَقَرَّ بِهِ الأبُ هَلْ يَرِثُ الأبُ قَالَ نَعَمْ وَلا يَرِثُ الأبُ [مِنَ] الابْنِ.

5. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn abu Najran from Muthanna’ al-Hannat from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who forms Mula ‘anah against his wife and rejects her child; then calls himself lying after forming Mula ‘anah and thinks that her child is his child if she is returned to him. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, and it is not honorable. She is not returned to him and it is not lawful for him until the Day of Judgment.’ I then asked about who inherits the child. He (the Imam) said, ‘The mother inherits the child.’ I then said, ‘Suppose if the mother dies and the child inherits her then the child dies. Who inherits him?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘His maternal uncles inherit him.’ I then asked, ‘If the father confirms him as his child will he then inherit him?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, he will inherit him but the father cannot inherit from the legacy of the child.’” 

6- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ شَاذَانَ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ سَيْفِ بْنِ عَمِيرَةَ عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ كَانَ عَلِيٌّ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ إِذَا مَاتَ ابْنُ الْمُلاعَنَةِ وَلَهُ إِخْوَةٌ قُسِمَ مَالُهُ عَلَى سِهَامِ اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ.

6. Muhammad ibn ’Isma‘il has narrated from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Sayf ibn ’Am/rah from Mansur who has narrated the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin would say if the child of Mula‘anah dies and has brothers the legacy is distributed among them according to the shares ordained by Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious.’” 

7- عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ رِئَابٍ عَنِ الْحَلَبِيِّ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنْ رَجُلٍ لاعَنَ امْرَأَتَهُ وَهِيَ حُبْلَى فَلَمَّا وَضَعَتْ ادَّعَى وَلَدَهَا وَأَقَرَّ بِهِ وَزَعَمَ أَنَّهُ مِنْهُ قَالَ يُرَدُّ إِلَيْهِ وَلَدُهُ وَلا يَرِثُهُ وَلا يُجْلَدُ لأنَّ اللِّعَانَ قَدْ مَضَى.

7. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from ibn Mahbub from Ali ibn Ri’ab from al-Halabiy who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who forms Mula ‘anah against his wife when she is pregnant. When the child is born, he claims her child with confession and thinks that the child is his child. He (the Imam) said, ‘The child is returned to him but cannot inherit his legacy and he is not whipped because Mula ‘anah has already taken place.’” 

8- حُمَيْدُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ سَمَاعَةَ وَعَلِيُّ بْنُ خَالِدٍ الْعَاقُولِيُّ عَنْ كَرَّامٍ عَنِ ابْنِ مُسْكَانَ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فِي رَجُلٍ لاعَنَ امْرَأَتَهُ وَانْتَفَى مِنْ وَلَدِهَا ثُمَّ أَكْذَبَ نَفْسَهُ بَعْدَ الْمُلاعَنَةِ وَزَعَمَ أَنَّ الْوَلَدَ لَهُ هَلْ يُرَدُّ إِلَيْهِ وَلَدُهُ قَالَ نَعَمْ يُرَدُّ إِلَيْهِ وَلا أَدَعُ وَلَدَهُ لَيْسَ لَهُ مِيرَاثٌ وَأَمَّا الْمَرْأَةُ فَلا تَحِلُّ لَهُ أَبَداً فَسَأَلْتُهُ مَنْ يَرِثُ الْوَلَدَ قَالَ أَخْوَالُهُ قُلْتُ أَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ مَاتَتْ أُمُّهُ فَوَرِثَهَا الْغُلامُ ثُمَّ مَاتَ الْغُلامُ مَنْ يَرِثُهُ قَالَ عَصَبَةُ أُمِّهِ قُلْتُ فَهُوَ يَرِثُ أَخْوَالَهُ قَالَ نَعَمْ.

8. Humayd ibn Ziyad has narrated from al-ffassan ibn Muhammad from Ja‘far ibn Sama‘ah and Ali ibn Khalid al-‘A’quliy from Karram from ibn Muskan from abu Basir who has narrated the following: “About the case of a man who forms Mula ‘anah against his wife and denies her child, then calls himself a liar after forming Mula ‘anah and thinks that the child is his child; if the child can be returned to him, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘The child is returned to him. The child is not called his child, he does not leave any legacy for him (father) and the woman is not lawful for him forever.’ I then asked him (the Imam) about who inherits the child. He (the Imam) said, ‘His maternal uncles inherit him.’ I then asked, ‘What happens if the child’s mother dies and the child inherits her, then the child dies: who then inherits him?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘The relatives of his mother inherit him.’ I then asked, ‘Can he inherit his maternal uncles? He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, he can do so.’” 

9- عَنْهُ عَنْ وُهَيْبِ بْنِ حَفْصٍ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ لاعَنَ امْرَأَتَهُ قَالَ يَلْحَقُ الْوَلَدُ بِأُمِّهِ وَيَرِثُهُ أَخْوَالُهُ وَلا يَرِثُهُمْ فَسَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ إِنْ أَكْذَبَ نَفْسَهُ قَالَ يَلْحَقُ بِهِ الْوَلَدُ.

9. It is narrated from the narrator of the previous Hadith and Wuhayb ibn Hafs from abu Basir who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who forms Mula ‘anah against his wife. He (the Imam) said, ‘The child is joined with his mother and his maternal uncle inherits his legacy but he cannot inherit them. I then asked, ‘What happens if he calls himself a liar?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘The child is joined with him.’” 

10- أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الأشْعَرِيُّ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ الْكُوفِيِّ عَنْ عُبَيْسِ بْنِ هِشَامٍ عَنْ ثَابِتٍ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ وَلَدِ الْمُلاعَنَةِ إِذَا تَلاعَنَا وَتَفَرَّقَا وَقَالَ زَوْجُهَا بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ الْوَلَدُ وَلَدِي وَأَكْذَبَ نَفْسَهُ قَالَ أَمَّا الْمَرْأَةُ فَلا تَرْجِعُ إِلَيْهِ وَلَكِنْ أَرُدُّ إِلَيْهِ الْوَلَدَ وَلا أَدَعُ وَلَدَهُ لَيْسَ لَهُ مِيرَاثٌ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَدَّعِهِ أَبُوهُ فَإِنَّ أَخْوَالَهُ يَرِثُونَهُ وَلا يَرِثُهُمْ فَإِنْ دَعَاهُ أَحَدٌ بِابْنِ الزَّانِيَةِ جُلِدَ الْحَدَّ. قَالَ الْفَضْلُ ابْنُ الْمُلاعَنَةِ لا وَارِثَ لَهُ مِنْ قِبَلِ أَبِيهِ وَإِنَّمَا تَرِثُهُ أُمُّهُ وَإِخْوَتُهُ لأمِّهِ وَ أَخْوَالُهُ عَلَى نَحْوِ مِيرَاثِ الإخْوَةِ مِنَ الأمِّ وَمِيرَاثِ الأخْوَالِ وَالْخَالاتِ فَإِنْ تَرَكَ ابْنُ الْمُلاعَنَةِ وُلْداً فَالْمَالُ بَيْنَهُمْ عَلَى سِهَامِ اللهِ وَإِنْ تَرَكَ الأمَّ فَالْمَالُ لَهَا وَإِنْ تَرَكَ إِخْوَةً فَعَلَى مَا بَيَّنَّا مِنْ سِهَامِ الإخْوَةِ لِلأمِّ فَإِنْ تَرَكَ خَالا وَخَالَةً فَالْمَالُ بَيْنَهُمَا بِالسَّوِيَّةِ وَإِنْ تَرَكَ إِخْوَةً وَجَدّاً فَالْمَالُ بَيْنَ الإخْوَةِ وَالْجَدِّ بَيْنَهُمْ بِالسَّوِيَّةِ الذَّكَرُ وَالأنْثَى فِيهِ سَوَاءٌ وَإِنْ تَرَكَ أَخاً وَجَدّاً فَالْمَالُ بَيْنَهُمَا نِصْفَانِ وَإِنْ تَرَكَ ابْنَ أُخْتِهِ وَجَدّاً فَالْمَالُ لِلْجَدِّ لأنَّهُ أَقْرَبُ بِبَطْنٍ وَلا يُشْبِهُ هَذَا ابْنَ الأخِ لِلأبِ وَالأمِّ مَعَ الْجَدِّ وَإِنْ تَرَكَ أُمَّهُ وَامْرَأَتَهُ فَلِلْمَرْأَةِ الرُّبُعُ وَمَا بَقِيَ فَلِلأمِّ وَإِنْ تَرَكَ ابْنُ الْمُلاعَنَةِ امْرَأَتَهُ وَجَدَّهُ أَبَا أُمِّهِ وَخَالَهُ فَلِلْمَرْأَةِ الرُّبُعُ وَلِلْجَدِّ الثُّلُثُ وَمَا بَقِيَ رُدَّ عَلَيْهِ لأنَّهُ أَقْرَبُ الأرْحَامِ فَإِنْ تَرَكَ جَدَّةً وَأُخْتاً فَالْمَالُ بَيْنَهُمَا نِصْفَانِ وَإِنْ مَاتَتِ ابْنَةُ مُلاعَنَةٍ وَتَرَكَتْ زَوْجَهَا وَابْنَ أَخِيهَا وَجَدَّهَا فَلِلزَّوْجِ النِّصْفُ وَمَا بَقِيَ فَلِلْجَدِّ لأنَّهُ كَأَنَّهَا تَرَكَتْ أَخاً لأمٍّ وَابْنَ أَخٍ لأمٍّ فَالْمَالُ لِلأخِ. 

10. Abu Ali a l-Ash ‘ariy has narrated from al-Hassan ibn Ali al-Kufiy from ‘Ubays ibn Hisham from Thabit from abu Basir who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who forms Mula ‘anah against his wife, then they separate from each other. The husband thereafter says that the child is his child and he calls himself a liar. He (the Imam) said, ‘The woman cannot return to him but the child must be joined with him; he cannot skip the child. There is no inheritance for him and if his father does not claim him, then his maternal uncles inherit him but he does not inherit them (maternal uncles). If anyone calls him a son of fornication, such a person must be subjected to whipping as a penalty.’” [Note: The next several passages of the Arabic text are words of al-Fadl and are not translated.] 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 7

Book 2, Chapter 53