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- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ أَيُّمَا مُؤْمِنٍ قَدَّمَ مُؤْمِناً فِي خُصُومَةٍ إِلَى قَاضٍ أَوْ سُلْطَانٍ جَائِرٍ فَقَضَى عَلَيْهِ بِغَيْرِ حُكْمِ اللهِ فَقَدْ شَرِكَهُ فِي الإثْمِ.

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from ‘Abd Allah ibn Sinan who has narrated the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Any believing person who takes another believing person before a judge or Sultan of injustice who then judges by means of something other than what Allah has sent, he becomes his (judge’s) partner in the sin.’” 

2- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ عَنْ هَارُونَ بْنِ حَمْزَةَ الْغَنَوِيِّ عَنْ حَرِيزٍ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ أَيُّمَا رَجُلٍ كَانَ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ أَخٍ لَهُ مُمَارَاةٌ فِي حَقٍّ فَدَعَاهُ إِلَى رَجُلٍ مِنْ إِخْوَانِهِ لِيَحْكُمَ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَهُ فَأَبَى إِلا أَنْ يُرَافِعَهُ إِلَى هَؤُلاءِ كَانَ بِمَنْزِلَةِ الَّذِينَ قَالَ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِينَ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّهُمْ آمَنُوا بِما أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَما أُنْزِلَ مِنْ قَبْلِكَ يُرِيدُونَ أَنْ يَتَحاكَمُوا إِلَى الطَّاغُوتِ وَقَدْ أُمِرُوا أَنْ يَكْفُرُوا بِهِ الآيَةَ.

2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Yazid ibn Ishaq from Harun ibn Hamzah al-Ghanawiy from Hariz from abu Basir who has narrated the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If anyone may have a dispute with his brother about a certain right, he then calls him before one of his brothers to judge for them but he refuses. He takes him before these ones, he will be like the one about whom Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has said, “. . . have you considered those who think they have believed in what Allah has sent before you, they like to seek judgment before the transgressors when they are commanded to reject the transgressors, the devil.” (4:60)’” 

3- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ بَحْرٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ مُسْكَانَ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لأبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَوْلُ اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فِي كِتَابِهِ وَلا تَأْكُلُوا أَمْوالَكُمْ بَيْنَكُمْ بِالْباطِلِ وَتُدْلُوا بِها إِلَى الْحُكَّامِ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا بَصِيرٍ إِنَّ اللهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ قَدْ عَلِمَ أَنَّ فِي الأمَّةِ حُكَّاماً يَجُورُونَ أَمَا إِنَّهُ لَمْ يَعْنِ حُكَّامَ أَهْلِ الْعَدْلِ وَلَكِنَّهُ عَنَى حُكَّامَ أَهْلِ الْجَوْرِ يَا أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ إِنَّهُ لَوْ كَانَ لَكَ عَلَى رَجُلٍ حَقٌّ فَدَعَوْتَهُ إِلَى حُكَّامِ أَهْلِ الْعَدْلِ فَأَبَى عَلَيْكَ إِلا أَنْ يُرَافِعَكَ إِلَى حُكَّامِ أَهْلِ الْجَوْرِ لِيَقْضُوا لَهُ لَكَانَ مِمَّنْ حَاكَمَ إِلَى الطَّاغُوتِ وَهُوَ قَوْلُ اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِينَ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّهُمْ آمَنُوا بِما أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَما أُنْزِلَ مِنْ قَبْلِكَ يُرِيدُونَ أَنْ يَتَحاكَمُوا إِلَى الطَّاغُوتِ.

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from ‘Abd Allah ibn Bahr from ‘Abd Allah ibn Muskan from abu Basir who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the meaning of the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘. . . do not consume your wealth among yourselves in falsehood and throw them to the rulers.’ (2:188) He (the Imam) said, ‘O abu Basir, Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, knows that among the nations there are unjust rulers who commit injustice. He has not thereby meant the rulers of justice but He has meant the unjust rulers. O abu Muhammad, if you have a certain right on a man and you call him before the judges of justice but he refuses and wants to take you before the unjust rulers and judges for judgment for him, he is one of those who has gone for justice before the transgressors. This is mentioned in the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious. “. . . have you considered those who think they have believed in what Allah has sent before you, they like to seek judgment before the transgressors when they are commanded to reject the transgressors, the devil.” (4:60)’” 

4- الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ أَبِي خَدِيجَةَ قَالَ قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِيَّاكُمْ أَنْ يُحَاكِمَ بَعْضُكُمْ بَعْضاً إِلَى أَهْلِ الْجَوْرِ وَلَكِنِ انْظُرُوا إِلَى رَجُلٍ مِنْكُمْ يَعْلَمُ شَيْئاً مِنْ قَضَائِنَا فَاجْعَلُوهُ بَيْنَكُمْ فَإِنِّي قَدْ جَعَلْتُهُ قَاضِياً فَتَحَاكَمُوا إِلَيْهِ.

4. Al-Husayn Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla’ ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn Ali from abu Khadijah who has narrated the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once said to me, ‘Beware no one among you must take one another before the people of injustice. You must find among yourselves one who knows certain things of our judgment; then you must appoint him to judge for you; I have made him to judge for you and you must seek adjudication before him.’” 

5- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ صَفْوَانَ عَنْ دَاوُدَ بْنِ الْحُصَيْنِ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ حَنْظَلَةَ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنْ رَجُلَيْنِ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا يَكُونُ بَيْنَهُمَا مُنَازَعَةٌ فِي دَيْنٍ أَوْ مِيرَاثٍ فَتَحَاكَمَا إِلَى السُّلْطَانِ أَوْ إِلَى الْقُضَاةِ أَيَحِلُّ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ مَنْ تَحَاكَمَ إِلَى الطَّاغُوتِ فَحَكَمَ لَهُ فَإِنَّمَا يَأْخُذُ سُحْتاً وَإِنْ كَانَ حَقُّهُ ثَابِتاً لأنَّهُ أَخَذَ بِحُكْمِ الطَّاغُوتِ وَقَدْ أَمَرَ اللهُ أَنْ يُكْفَرَ بِهِ قُلْتُ كَيْفَ يَصْنَعَانِ قَالَ انْظُرُوا إِلَى مَنْ كَانَ مِنْكُمْ قَدْ رَوَى حَدِيثَنَا وَنَظَرَ فِي حَلالِنَا وَحَرَامِنَا وَعَرَفَ أَحْكَامَنَا فَارْضَوْا بِهِ حَكَماً فَإِنِّي قَدْ جَعَلْتُهُ عَلَيْكُمْ حَاكِماً فَإِذَا حَكَمَ بِحُكْمِنَا فَلَمْ يَقْبَلْهُ مِنْهُ فَإِنَّمَا بِحُكْمِ اللهِ قَدِ اسْتَخَفَّ وَعَلَيْنَا رَدَّ وَالرَّادُّ عَلَيْنَا الرَّادُّ عَلَى اللهِ وَهُوَ عَلَى حَدِّ الشِّرْكِ بِاللهِ. 

5. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Safwan from Dawud ibn al- Haseen from ‘Umar ibn Hanzalah who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about two of our people who have a dispute over a certain issue of religion or inheritance, and they go for judgment before the Sultan or a judge; if it is lawful. He (the Imam) said, ‘Whoever seeks judgment before al-Taghut (transgressors) who judges for him, whatever he then receives by such judgment is al-suht (sinful earning) even if it is his established right; he has taken it through the judgment of al-Taghut (transgressors) when Allah has commanded to reject al-Taghut.’ I then asked, ’What then should they do?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘You must find one among you who narrates our Hadith and has given thought about our lawful and unlawful matters and has learned our rules; then you must accept him as the judge among you; I have made him the judge and ruler over you. When he issues judgments according to our rules and it is not accepted from him, then the rule and laws of Allah are taken lightly and our rules are rejected. Those who reject us, they have rejected Allah and that is like taking things as partners of Allah.’” 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 7

Book 6, Chapter 8