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 أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ جَمِيلِ بْنِ دَرَّاجٍ وَمُحَمَّدِ بْنِ حُمْرَانَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قُلْنَا أَتَجُوزُ شَهَادَةُ النِّسَاءِ فِي الْحُدُودِ فَقَالَ فِي الْقَتْلِ وَحْدَهُ إِنَّ عَلِيّاً (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) كَانَ يَقُولُ لا يَبْطُلُ دَمُ امْرِئٍ مُسْلِمٍ.

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Jamil ibn Darraj and Muhammad ibn Humran who has narrated the following: “We asked abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), if testimony of women is acceptable in penalty cases. He (the Imam) said, ‘Only in murder cases it is acceptable. ’Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali (a.s.), would say, “The blood (life) of a Muslim cannot be invalidated.’”” 

2- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنِ الْحَلَبِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَنَّهُ سُئِلَ هَلْ تُقْبَلُ شَهَادَةُ النِّسَاءِ فِي النِّكَاحِ فَقَالَ تَجُوزُ إِذَا كَانَ مَعَهُنَّ رَجُلٌ وَكَانَ عَلِيٌّ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ لا أُجِيزُهَا فِي الطَّلاقِ قُلْتُ تَجُوزُ شَهَادَةُ النِّسَاءِ مَعَ الرَّجُلِ فِي الدَّيْنِ قَالَ نَعَمْ وَسَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ شَهَادَةِ الْقَابِلَةِ فِي الْوِلادَةِ قَالَ تَجُوزُ شَهَادَةُ الْوَاحِدَةِ وَقَالَ تَجُوزُ شَهَادَةُ النِّسَاءِ [فِي الدَّيْنِ وَ] فِي الْمَنْفُوسِ وَالْعُذْرَةِ وَحَدَّثَنِي مَنْ سَمِعَهُ يُحَدِّثُ أَنَّ أَبَاهُ أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) أَجَازَ شَهَادَةَ النِّسَاءِ فِي الدَّيْنِ مَعَ يَمِينِ الطَّالِبِ يَحْلِفُ بِاللهِ إِنَّ حَقَّهُ لَحَقٌّ.

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hammad ibn ‘Uthaman from al-Halabiy who has narrated the following: “Once abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked, if testimony by women is acceptable in the case of marriage?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is acceptable if there is a man with them. Ali (a.s.), would say, “I do not accept the testimony by women in divorce.’” I then asked if testimony of women with a man is acceptable in matters of a loan. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, it is acceptable.’ I asked about the testimony of a nurse about childbirth. He (the Imam) said, ‘The testimony of one nurse is acceptable.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Testimony of women in matters of a loan, childbirth and virginity is acceptable.’ Those who had heard from him (the Imam) narrated to me that his father had informed him that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, allowed testimony by women in matters of a loan with an oath by the plaintiff. He must swear by Allah that his claim is right.’” 

3- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ حَمَّادٍ عَنِ الْحَلَبِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ شَهَادَةِ النِّسَاءِ فِي الرَّجْمِ فَقَالَ إِذَا كَانَ ثَلاثَةُ رِجَالٍ وَامْرَأَتَانِ وَإِذَا كَانَ رَجُلانِ وَأَرْبَعُ نِسْوَةٍ لَمْ يَجُزْ فِي الرَّجْمِ.

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hammad from al-Halabiy who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the testimony of women in the case of stoning. He (the Imam) said, ‘If there are three men and two women, but if there are two men and four women, stoning is not permissible.’” 

4- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ شَهَادَةِ النِّسَاءِ فَقَالَ تَجُوزُ شَهَادَةُ النِّسَاءِ وَحْدَهُنَّ عَلَى مَا لا يَسْتَطِيعُ الرِّجَالُ يَنْظُرُونَ إِلَيْهِ وَتَجُوزُ شَهَادَةُ النِّسَاءِ فِي النِّكَاحِ إِذَا كَانَ مَعَهُنَّ رَجُلٌ وَلا تَجُوزُ فِي الطَّلاقِ وَلا فِي الدَّمِ غَيْرَ أَنَّهَا تَجُوزُ شَهَادَتُهَا فِي حَدِّ الزِّنَى إِذَا كَانَ ثَلاثَةُ رِجَالٍ وَامْرَأَتَانِ وَلا تَجُوزُ شَهَادَةُ رَجُلَيْنِ وَأَرْبَعِ نِسْوَةٍ.

4. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Ali ibn abu Hamzah from abu Basir who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the testimony of women. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is acceptable in matters in which men cannot become a witness. It is acceptable about marriage if there is a man with them, but it is not acceptable in divorce or blood (life) except that it is acceptable in the penalty for fornication if there are three men and two women, but the testimony of two men and four women is not acceptable in this case.’” 

5- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ جَمِيعاً عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْفُضَيْلِ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ تَجُوزُ شَهَادَةُ النِّسَاءِ فِي نِكَاحٍ أَوْ طَلاقٍ أَوْ فِي رَجْمٍ قَالَ تَجُوزُ شَهَادَةُ النِّسَاءِ فِيمَا لا يَسْتَطِيعُ الرِّجَالُ أَنْ يَنْظُرُوا إِلَيْهِ وَلَيْسَ مَعَهُنَّ رَجُلٌ وَتَجُوزُ شَهَادَتُهُنَّ فِي النِّكَاحِ إِذَا كَانَ مَعَهُنَّ رَجُلٌ وَتَجُوزُ شَهَادَتُهُنَّ فِي حَدِّ الزِّنَى إِذَا كَانَ ثَلاثَةُ رِجَالٍ وَامْرَأَتَانِ وَلا تَجُوزُ شَهَادَةُ رَجُلَيْنِ وَأَرْبَعِ نِسْوَةٍ فِي الزِّنَى وَالرَّجْمِ وَلا تَجُوزُ شَهَادَتُهُنَّ فِي الطَّلاقِ وَلا فِي الدَّمِ.

5. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father and Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad all from ibn Mahbub from Muhammad ibn al-Fudayl who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu al-Hassan, al-Rida’ (a.s.), if testimony of women is acceptable in marriage or divorce or stoning. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is acceptable in matters which men cannot witness (look at) and there is no man with them. Their testimony in marriage is acceptable if there is a man with them; and their testimony in the penalty for fornication is acceptable if there are three men and two women; but the testimony of two men and four women is not acceptable in this case and their testimony about divorce and blood (life) is not acceptable.’” 

6- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ يُونُسَ عَنْ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ الْخَزَّازِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ قَالَ قَالَ لا تَجُوزُ شَهَادَةُ النِّسَاءِ فِي الْهِلالِ وَلا فِي الطَّلاقِ وَقَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ النِّسَاءِ تَجُوزُ شَهَادَتُهُنَّ قَالَ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ فِي الْعُذْرَةِ وَالنُّفَسَاءِ.

6. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus from abu Ayyub al-Khazzaz from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has narrated the following: “He (the Imam) has said that testimony of women about new moon is not acceptable as well as in divorce. I asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), if testimony of women is acceptable. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, it is acceptable about virginity and childbirth.’” 

7- يُونُسُ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ بُكَيْرٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) قَالَ تَجُوزُ شَهَادَةُ النِّسَاءِ فِي الْعُذْرَةِ وَكُلِّ عَيْبٍ لا يَرَاهُ الرِّجَالُ.

7. Yunus has narrated from ‘Abd Allah ibn Bukayr who has narrated the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said testimony of women about virginity and every defect which men cannot look at is admissible.’” 

8- عَنْهُ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ لا تَجُوزُ شَهَادَةُ النِّسَاءِ فِي رُؤْيَةِ الْهِلالِ وَلا تَجُوزُ فِي الرَّجْمِ شَهَادَةُ رَجُلَيْنِ وَأَرْبَعِ نِسْوَةٍ وَتَجُوزُ فِي ذَلِكَ ثَلاثَةُ رِجَالٍ وَامْرَأَتَانِ وَقَالَ تَجُوزُ شَهَادَةُ النِّسَاءِ وَحْدَهُنَّ بِلا رِجَالٍ فِي كُلِّ مَا لا يَجُوزُ لِلرِّجَالِ النَّظَرُ إِلَيْهِ وَتَجُوزُ شَهَادَةُ الْقَابِلَةِ وَحْدَهَا فِي الْمَنْفُوسِ.

8. It is narrated from the narrator of the previous Hadith from ‘Abd Allah ibn Sinan who has narrated the following: “I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘Testimony of women about the new moon is not acceptable. It is not acceptable in stoning with two men and four women but it is acceptable with three men and two women.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘The testimony of women without men is acceptable in matters that cannot be witnessed by men who are not allowed to look at it and the testimony of a nurse is admissible about childbirth.’” 

9- عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي نَجْرَانَ عَنْ مُثَنًّى الْحَنَّاطِ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنْ شَهَادَةِ النِّسَاءِ تَجُوزُ فِي النِّكَاحِ قَالَ نَعَمْ وَلا تَجُوزُ فِي الطَّلاقِ قَالَ وَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) تَجُوزُ شَهَادَةُ النِّسَاءِ فِي الرَّجْمِ إِذَا كَانَ ثَلاثَةُ رِجَالٍ وَ امْرَأَتَانِ وَإِذَا كَانَ أَرْبَعُ نِسْوَةٍ وَرَجُلانِ فَلا تَجُوزُ فِي الرَّجْمِ قُلْتُ تَجُوزُ شَهَادَةُ النِّسَاءِ مَعَ الرِّجَالِ فِي الدَّمِ قَالَ لا.

9. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from ibn abu Najran from Muthanna’ al-Hannat from Zurarah who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about the testimony of women if it is acceptable in marriage. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, it is acceptable, but it is not acceptable about divorce.’ He (the Imam) said that Ali (a.s.), has said, ‘Testimony of women is acceptable in stoning if there are three men and two women; but if there are four women and two men it is not acceptable about stoning.’ I asked, ‘Is testimony of women with men acceptable in blood (life) cases?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘No, it is not acceptable.’” 

10- الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْوَشَّاءِ عَنْ أَبَانِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الْمَرْأَةِ يَحْضُرُهَا الْمَوْتُ وَلَيْسَ عِنْدَهَا إِلا امْرَأَةٌ أَتَجُوزُ شَهَادَتُهَا أَمْ لا تَجُوزُ فَقَالَ تَجُوزُ شَهَادَةُ النِّسَاءِ فِي الْمَنْفُوسِ وَالْعُذْرَةِ.

10. Al-Husayn Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla’ ibn Muhammad from al-Washsha’ 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 woman who is about to die and there is no one with her except a woman; if her testimony is admissible or not. He (the Imam) said, ‘Testimony of women is acceptable about childbirth and virginity.’” 

11- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الْحَارِثِيِّ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ تَجُوزُ شَهَادَةُ النِّسَاءِ فِيمَا لا يَسْتَطِيعُ الرِّجَالُ أَنْ يَنْظُرُوا إِلَيْهِ وَيَشْهَدُوا عَلَيْهِ وَتَجُوزُ شَهَادَتُهُنَّ فِي النِّكَاحِ وَلا تَجُوزُ فِي الطَّلاقِ وَلا فِي الدَّمِ وَتَجُوزُ فِي حَدِّ الزِّنَى إِذَا كَانَ ثَلاثَةُ رِجَالٍ وَامْرَأَتَانِ وَلا تَجُوزُ إِذَا كَانَ رَجُلانِ وَأَرْبَعُ نِسْوَةٍ وَلا تَجُوزُ شَهَادَتُهُنَّ فِي الرَّجْمِ.

11. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Mahbub from Ibrahim al-Harithiy who has narrated the following: “I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘Testimony of women is acceptable in matters where men cannot witness and look to bear witness thereof. Testimony of women is acceptable about marriage but not about divorce or blood (life) and it is acceptable about the penalty for fornication if there are three men and two women but not if there are two men and four women and their testimony about stoning is not acceptable.’” 

12- ابْنُ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ يَزِيدَ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنْ رَجُلٍ مَاتَ وَتَرَكَ امْرَأَتَهُ وَهِيَ حَامِلٌ فَوَضَعَتْ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهِ غُلاماً ثُمَّ مَاتَ الْغُلامُ بَعْدَ مَا وَقَعَ إِلَى الأرْضِ فَشَهِدَتِ الْمَرْأَةُ الَّتِي قَبِلَتْهَا أَنَّهُ اسْتَهَلَّ وَصَاحَ حِينَ وَقَعَ إِلَى الأرْضِ ثُمَّ مَاتَ قَالَ عَلَى الإمَامِ أَنْ يُجِيزَ شَهَادَتَهَا فِي رُبُعِ مِيرَاثِ الْغُلامِ.

12. Ibn Mahbub has narrated from ‘Umar ibn Yazid who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who dies and leaves behind a woman who is pregnant and gives birth after his death to a boy. Then the boy dies after falling on the ground and she who nursed witnesses it all. She says that he was alive and cried upon falling on the ground, then died. He (the Imam) said, ’The Imam can allow her testimony about one-fourth of the legacy of the boy.”’ 

13- عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي نَصْرٍ عَنْ دَاوُدَ بْنِ سِرْحَانَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ أُجِيزُ شَهَادَةَ النِّسَاءِ فِي الْغُلامِ صَاحَ أَمْ لَمْ يَصِحْ وَفِي كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ لا يَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِ الرِّجَالُ تَجُوزُ شَهَادَةُ النِّسَاءِ فِيهِ. 

13. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from ibn abu Nasr from Dawud ibn Sarhan who has narrated the following: “Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, T accept testimony of women about a boy who cried or did not cry, and about everything to which men cannot look, the testimony of women is acceptable.’” 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 7

Book 5, Chapter 13