The Rare Ahadith

سِتَّةٌ تَلْحَقُ الْمُؤْمِنَ بَعْدَ وَفَاتِهِ وَلَدٌ يَسْتَغْفِرُ لَهُ وَ مُصْحَفٌ يُخَلِّفُهُ وَ غَرْسٌ يَغْرِسُهُ وَ قَلِيبٌ يَحْفِرُهُ وَ صَدَقَةٌ يُجْرِيهَا وَ سُنَّةٌ يُؤْخَذُ بِهَا مِنْ بَعْدِهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Six things follow a believing deceased after his death: a child that asks forgiveness for him, a book that he leaves behind, a plantation that he plants, a well that he digs, a charity that he establishes and a Sunnah which is acted upon after his death/”

قُلْتُ لَهُ إِنَّ رَجُلًا أَوْصَى إِلَيَّ فَسَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ يُشْرِكَ مَعِي ذَا قَرَابَةٍ لَهُ فَفَعَلَ وَ ذَكَرَ الَّذِي أَوْصَى إِلَيَّ أَنَّ لَهُ قِبَلَ الَّذِي أَشْرَكَهُ فِي الْوَصِيَّةِ خَمْسِينَ وَ مِائَةَ دِرْهَمٍ عِنْدَهُ رَهْناً بِهَا جَامٌ مِنْ فِضَّةٍ فَلَمَّا هَلَكَ الرَّجُلُ أَنْشَأَ الْوَصِيُّ يَدَّعِي أَنَّ لَهُ قِبَلَهُ أَكْرَارَ حِنْطَةٍ قَالَ إِنْ أَقَامَ الْبَيِّنَةَ وَ إِلَّا فَلَا شَيْ‌ءَ لَهُ قَ

“I once said to abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), that a man made a will in which he appointed me as executor of the will. I asked him to appoint one more person of his relatives with me and he did. The testator told me that with the other executor of the will he has a bowl of silver, which is worth one hundred fifty dirham as a

أَوْصَى رَجُلٌ بِثَلَاثِينَ دِينَاراً لِوُلْدِ فَاطِمَةَ ع قَالَ فَأَتَى بِهَا الرَّجُلُ إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع ادْفَعْهَا إِلَى فُلَانٍ شَيْخٍ مِنْ وُلْدِ فَاطِمَةَ ع وَ كَانَ مُعِيلًا مُقِلًّا فَقَالَ لَهُ الرَّجُلُ إِنَّمَا أَوْصَى بِهَا الرَّجُلُ لِوُلْدِ فَاطِمَةَ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّهَا لَا تَقَعُ مِنْ وُلْدِ فَاطِمَةَ وَ هِيَ تَقَعُ مِنْ هَذَا الرَّجُلِ وَ ل

“A man made a will about thirty dinars for the children of Fatimah, ‘Alayha al-Salam. Another man brought it to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), who told him to give it to so and so old man of the descendents of Fatimah, ‘Alayha al-Salam, who has a family to feed and is poor. The man said, ‘The man has a will for the children of

قُلْتُ لَهُ إِنَّ فِي بَلَدِنَا رُبَّمَا أُوصِيَ بِالْمَالِ لآِلِ مُحَمَّدٍ ع فَيَأْتُونِّي بِهِ فَأَكْرَهُ أَنْ أَحْمِلَهُ إِلَيْكَ حَتَّى أَسْتَأْمِرَكَ فَقَالَ لَا تَأْتِنِي بِهِ وَ لَا تَعَرَّضْ لَهُ‌[2].

“I once said to him (the Imam) (a.s.), ‘In our land people may make a will for Ale Muhammad (SAW). They ask me to deliver it to you and I dislike carrying it to you before asking for your instructions.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Do not carry them to me and do not bother about it.’”

قَالَ مَنْ أَوْصَى بِالثُّلُثِ احْتُسِبَ لَهُ مِنْ زَكَاتِهِ‌[3].

4. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated in a marfu‘ the following: “‘A’immah, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, have said, ‘If one makes a will about one-third of his legacy it is counted as his Zakat.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص‌ فِي رَجُلٍ أَقَرَّ عِنْدَ مَوْتِهِ لِفُلَانٍ وَ فُلَانٍ لِأَحَدِهِمَا عِنْدِي أَلْفُ دِرْهَمٍ ثُمَّ مَاتَ عَلَى تِلْكَ الْحَالِ فَقَالَ أَيُّهُمَا أَقَامَ الْبَيِّنَةَ فَلَهُ الْمَالُ فَإِنْ لَمْ يُقِمْ وَاحِدٌ مِنْهُمَا الْبَيِّنَةَ فَالْمَالُ بَيْنَهُمَا نِصْفَانِ‌[4].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that about the case of a man who at the time of his death states that either one of so and so and so and so has one thousand dirham with me then he dies in such condition, ’Amir al-Mu’minin, has issued the following decree. ‘Whoever presents testimony can receive the asset but if no one

مَنْ عَدَلَ فِي وَصِيَّتِهِ كَانَ بِمَنْزِلَةِ مَنْ تَصَدَّقَ بِهَا فِي حَيَاتِهِ وَ مَنْ جَارَ فِي وَصِيَّتِهِ لَقِيَ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَ هُوَ عَنْهُ مُعْرِضٌ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘One who maintains justice in his will is like one who has given in charity in his lifetime and one who is unjust in his will he, on the Day of Judgment, will come before Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, who will shun him.’”

كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع أَسْأَلُهُ عَنْ إِنْسَانٍ أَوْصَى بِوَصِيَّةٍ فَلَمْ يَحْفَظِ الْوَصِيُّ إِلَّا بَاباً وَاحِداً مِنْهَا- كَيْفَ يَصْنَعُ فِي الْبَاقِي فَوَقَّعَ ع الْأَبْوَابُ الْبَاقِيَةُ يَجْعَلُهَا فِي الْبِرِّ.

“I once wrote to abu al-Hassan (a.s.), and asked him about a man who makes a will but the executor of the will executes only one item of it. What must he do about the other items? He (the Imam) signed the answer that said, ‘He can spend the other chapters (items) in good causes.’”

كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع أَنِّي وَقَفْتُ أَرْضاً عَلَى وُلْدِي وَ فِي حَجٍّ وَ وُجُوهِ بِرٍّ وَ لَكَ فِيهِ حَقٌّ بَعْدِي أَوْ لِمَنْ بَعْدَكَ وَ قَدْ أَزَلْتُهَا عَنْ ذَلِكَ الْمَجْرَى فَقَالَ ع أَنْتَ فِي حِلٍّ وَ مُوَسَّعٌ لَكَ‌[1].

“I once wrote to abu al-Hassan (a.s.), saying, ‘I have made a piece of land an endowment for my children, for al-Hajj and for the ways and aspects of virtuous matters. There is your right after me and for the one after you and I have moved it from that course.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is lawful for you and you have the

كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع أَسْأَلُهُ فِي رَجُلٍ أَوْصَى بِبَعْضِ ثُلُثِهِ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَوْتِهِ مِنْ غَلَّةِ ضَيْعَةٍ لَهُ إِلَى وَصِيِّهِ يَضَعُ نِصْفَهُ فِي مَوَاضِعَ سَمَّاهَا لَهُ مَعْلُومَةٍ فِي كُلِّ سَنَةٍ وَ الْبَاقِي مِنَ الثُّلُثِ يَعْمَلُ فِيهِ بِمَا شَاءَ وَ رَأَى الْوَصِيُّ فَأَنْفَذَ الْوَصِيُّ مَا أَوْصَى إِلَيْهِ مِنَ الْمُسَمَّى الْمَعْلُومِ وَ قَالَ فِي الْبَاقِي قَدْ صَيَّرْتُ لِفُلَانٍ كَذَا

“I once wrote to abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about the case of a man who made a will about a part of the one-third of his legacy after his death from the income of a certain asset that belonged to him. He instructed the executor of his will to spend half of it for the causes he mentioned every year and with the rest of the o

كَتَبَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى‌ هَلْ لِلْوَصِيِّ أَنْ يَشْتَرِيَ شَيْئاً مِنْ مَالِ الْمَيِّتِ إِذَا بِيعَ فِيمَنْ زَادَ فَيَزِيدَ وَ يَأْخُذَ لِنَفْسِهِ فَقَالَ يَجُوزُ إِذَا اشْتَرَى صَحِيحاً.

“Once, Muhammad ibn Yahya wrote (to the Imam), ‘Is it lawful for an executor of the will to buy something from the assets of the deceased as the highest bidder? He (the Imam) said, ‘It is permissible if he buys it in an undamaged condition.’”

قُلْتُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ نُؤْتَى بِالشَّيْ‌ءِ فَيُقَالُ هَذَا مَا كَانَ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع عِنْدَنَا فَكَيْفَ نَصْنَعُ فَقَالَ مَا كَانَ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع بِسَبَبِ الْإِمَامَةِ فَهُوَ لِي وَ مَا كَانَ غَيْرَ ذَلِكَ فَهُوَ مِيرَاثٌ عَلَى كِتَابِ اللَّهِ وَ سُنَّةِ نَبِيِّهِ ص.

“I once said to Sahib al- ‘Askar (a.s.), ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, something is brought to us and it is said “This is what was for abu Ja’far (a.s.).” How must we deal with it?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Whatever was for abu Ja‘far because of Imamat (leadership with divine authority), it be

كَتَبْتُ إِلَيْهِ رَجُلٌ مَاتَ وَ جَعَلَ‌ كُلَّ شَيْ‌ءٍ لَهُ فِي حَيَاتِهِ لَكَ وَ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ وَلَدٌ ثُمَّ إِنَّهُ أَصَابَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ وَلَداً وَ مَبْلَغُ مَالِهِ ثَلَاثَةُ آلَافِ دِرْهَمٍ وَ قَدْ بَعَثْتُ إِلَيْكَ بِأَلْفِ دِرْهَمٍ فَإِنْ رَأَيْتَ جَعَلَنِيَ اللَّهُ فِدَاكَ أَنْ تُعْلِمَنِي فِيهِ رَأْيَكَ لِأَعْمَلَ بِهِ فَكَتَبَ أَطْلِقْ لَهُمْ‌[1].

“I once wrote to him (the Imam) (a.s.), ‘A man has died who in his lifetime had made everything that he had for you and he did not have any children, thereafter a child was born to him and his assets are three thousand dirham. He has sent to you one thousand dirham. I like to know your decision in the matter so I can f

كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع اعْلَمْ يَا سَيِّدِي أَنَّ ابْنَ أَخٍ لِي تُوُفِّيَ فَأَوْصَى لِسَيِّدِي بِضَيْعَةٍ وَ أَوْصَى أَنْ يُدْفَعَ كُلُّ شَيْ‌ءٍ فِي دَارِهِ حَتَّى الْأَوْتَادُ تُبَاعُ وَ يُجْعَلُ الثَّمَنُ إِلَى سَيِّدِي وَ أَوْصَى بِحَجٍّ وَ أَوْصَى لِلْفُقَرَاءِ مِنْ أَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ وَ أَوْصَى لِعَمَّتِهِ وَ أُخْتِهِ بِمَالٍ فَنَظَرْتُ فَإِذَا مَا أَوْصَى بِهِ أَكْثَرُ مِنَ الثُّلُثِ وَ لَعَلَّهُ يُقَار

“I once wrote to abu al-Hassan (a.s.), saying, ’My master, I inform you that the son of my brother has died and has made a will about a certain piece of property for you. He in his will has said that everything in his house must be given, even the pegs must be sold and the price sent to my master. He has made a will fo

سَأَلْتُ الرِّضَا ع عَنْ رَجُلٍ حَضَرَهُ الْمَوْتُ فَأَوْصَى إِلَى ابْنِهِ وَ أَخَوَيْنِ شَهِدَ الِابْنُ وَصِيَّتَهُ وَ غَابَ الْأَخَوَانِ فَلَمَّا كَانَ بَعْدَ أَيَّامٍ أَبَيَا أَنْ يَقْبَلَا الْوَصِيَّةَ مَخَافَةَ أَنْ يَتَوَثَّبَ عَلَيْهِمَا ابْنُهُ وَ لَمْ يَقْدِرَا أَنْ يَعْمَلَا بِمَا يَنْبَغِي فَضَمِنَ لَهُمَا ابْنُ عَمٍّ لَهُمَا وَ هُوَ مُطَاعٌ فِيهِمْ أَنْ يَكْفِيَهُمَا[3] ابْنَهُ فَدَخَلَا بِهَذَا الشَّرْطِ

“I once asked al-Rida’ (a.s.), about the case of a man who at the time of his death made a will to his son and two brothers. The son was present at the time of his making the will but not the brothers. After several days they refused to accept acting as executors of the will for fear from the son and that, they may not

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى ع إِنَّ عَلِيَّ بْنَ السَّرِيِّ تُوُفِّيَ فَأَوْصَى إِلَيَّ فَقَالَ رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ قُلْتُ وَ إِنَّ ابْنَهُ جَعْفَرَ بْنَ عَلِيٍّ وَقَعَ عَلَى أُمِّ وَلَدٍ لَهُ فَأَمَرَنِي أَنْ أُخْرِجَهُ مِنَ الْمِيرَاثِ قَالَ فَقَالَ لِي أَخْرِجْهُ مِنَ الْمِيرَاثِ وَ إِنْ كُنْتَ صَادِقاً فَسَيُصِيبُهُ خَبَلٌ قَالَ فَرَجَعْتُ فَقَدَّمَنِي إِلَى أَبِي يُوسُفَ الْقَاضِي فَقَالَ لَهُ أَصْلَحَكَ اللَّه

“I once said to abu al-Hassan (a.s.), that Ali ibn al-Sariy has died and has made a will to me. He (the Imam) said, ‘May Allah grant him mercy.’ I then said that his son, Ja‘far ibn Ali, has fallen on a mother of his child. He has instructed me not to allow him receive anything from the legacy. He (the narrator) has sa

دَعَانِي أَبِي حِينَ حَضَرَتْهُ الْوَفَاةُ فَقَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ اقْبِضْ مَالَ إِخْوَتِكَ الصِّغَارِ فَاعْمَلْ بِهِ وَ خُذْ نِصْفَ الرِّبْحِ وَ أَعْطِهِمُ النِّصْفَ وَ لَيْسَ عَلَيْكَ ضَمَانٌ فَقَدَّمَتْنِي أُمُّ وَلَدٍ لِأَبِي بَعْدَ وَفَاةِ أَبِي إِلَى ابْنِ أَبِي لَيْلَى فَقَالَتْ لَهُ إِنَّ هَذَا يَأْكُلُ أَمْوَالَ وَلَدِي قَالَ فَقَصَصْتُ عَلَيْهِ مَا أَمَرَنِي بِهِ أَبِي فَقَالَ ابْنُ أَبِي لَيْلَى إِنْ كَانَ أَب

“My father called me at the time of his death and said, ‘Son, take the assets of your small brothers and use them in business. Take half of the profit and give them the other half and you will not be held responsible.’ A mother of the child of my father took me, after the death of my father, before ibn abu Layla’ and s

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّ أَبِي حَضَرَهُ الْمَوْتُ فَقِيلَ لَهُ أَوْصِ فَقَالَ هَذَا ابْنِي يَعْنِي عُمَرَ فَمَا صَنَعَ فَهُوَ جَائِزٌ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَقَدْ أَوْصَى أَبُوكَ وَ أَوْجَزَ قُلْتُ فَإِنَّهُ أَمَرَ لَكَ بِكَذَا وَ كَذَا فَقَالَ أَجْرِهِ قُلْتُ وَ أَوْصَى بِنَسَمَةٍ مُؤْمِنَةٍ عَارِفَةٍ فَلَمَّا أَعْتَقْنَاهُ بَانَ لَنَا أَنَّهُ لِغَيْرِ رِشْدَةٍ[1] فَقَالَ قَدْ أَجْزَأَتْ ع

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘My father was about to die and he was told to make a will.’ He said, ‘This is my son, meaning, ‘Umar. Whatever he does is permissible.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), said to him, ‘Your father has made a will and has made it concise.’ I said, ‘He has designated for you such and such amou

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ‌ مَنْ أَوْصَى وَ لَمْ يَحِفْ وَ لَمْ يُضَارَّ كَانَ كَمَنْ تَصَدَّقَ بِهِ فِي حَيَاتِهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Amir al-Mu’minin has said, ‘If one makes a will without being unjust and harming anyone it is like giving it as charity in his lifetime.”

لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ مِنْ أَجْلِ أَنَّ أَبَاهُ قَدْ أَذِنَ لَهُ فِي ذَلِكَ وَ هُوَ حَيٌّ.

“Once abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked about the case of a man who made a will about certain assets for his son and gave him permission at the time of his death to use the assets in business and share the profit. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful because his father gave permission when he was living.’”

لَهُ اشْتَرِ مِنْهَا نَسَمَةً وَ أَعْتِقْهَا عَنِّي وَ حُجَّ عَنِّي بِالْبَاقِي ثُمَّ مَاتَ صَاحِبُ الْأَلْفِ دِرْهَمٍ فَانْطَلَقَ الْعَبْدُ فَاشْتَرَى أَبَاهُ فَأَعْتَقَهُ عَنِ الْمَيِّتِ وَ دَفَعَ إِلَيْهِ الْبَاقِيَ فِي الْحَجِّ عَنِ الْمَيِّتِ فَحَجَّ عَنْهُ فَبَلَغَ ذَلِكَ مَوَالِيَ أَبِيهِ وَ مَوَالِيَهُ وَ وَرَثَةَ الْمَيِّتِ فَاخْتَصَمُوا جَمِيعاً فِي الْأَلْفِ دِرْهَمٍ فَقَالَ مَوَالِي الْمُعْتَقِ إِنَّمَا ا

“This is about the case of a people’s slave who has permission for doing business. A man gives him one thousand dirham to buy a slave and set him free on his behalf, perform al-Hajj on his behalf with the remainder of the asset. The owner of one thousand dirham dies and the slave buys his father, sets him free on behal

قُلْتُ لَهُ رَجُلٌ أَوْصَى لِرَجُلٍ بِوَصِيَّةٍ فِي مَالِهِ ثُلُثٍ أَوْ رُبُعٍ فَقُتِلَ الرَّجُلُ خَطَأً يَعْنِي الْمُوصِيَ فَقَالَ يُحَازُ لِهَذِهِ الْوَصِيَّةِ مِنْ مِيرَاثِهِ وَ مِنْ دِيَتِهِ.

“I once said to abu Ja‘far (a.s.), that a man made a will to another man about his assets, one-third or one-fourth of his legacy, and then the testator is killed mistakenly. He (the Imam) said, ‘Funds must be kept aside for this will from his legacy and the wergild.’”

مَاتَتْ أُخْتُ مُفَضَّلِ بْنِ غِيَاثٍ فَأَوْصَتْ بِشَيْ‌ءٍ مِنْ مَالِهَا الثُّلُثِ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَ الثُّلُثِ فِي الْمَسَاكِينِ وَ الثُّلُثِ فِي الْحَجِّ فَإِذَا هُوَ لَا يَبْلُغُ مَا قَالَتْ فَذَهَبْتُ أَنَا وَ هُوَ إِلَى ابْنِ أَبِي لَيْلَى فَقَصَّ عَلَيْهِ الْقِصَّةَ فَقَالَ اجْعَلْ ثُلُثاً فِي ذَا وَ ثُلُثاً فِي ذَا وَ ثُلُثاً فِي ذَا فَأَتَيْنَا ابْنَ شُبْرُمَةَ فَقَالَ أَيْضاً كَمَا قَالَ ابْنُ أَبِي لَيْ

“Mufaddal ibn Ghiyath’s sister died and she had made a will that said, ‘One-third must be given in the way of Allah, one-third to the destitute and one-third for al-Hajj.’ It was not enough for what she had asked. He and I went to ibn abu Layla’ and told him the story. He said, ‘Give one-third to this, one- third to th

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع عَنْ رَجُلٍ مُسَافِرٍ حَضَرَهُ الْمَوْتُ فَدَفَعَ مَالَهُ إِلَى رَجُلٍ مِنَ التُّجَّارِ فَقَالَ إِنَّ هَذَا الْمَالَ لِفُلَانِ بْنِ فُلَانٍ لَيْسَ لِي فِيهِ قَلِيلٌ وَ لَا كَثِيرٌ فَادْفَعْهُ إِلَيْهِ‌ يَضَعُهُ حَيْثُ يَشَاءُ فَمَاتَ وَ لَمْ يَأْمُرْ صَاحِبَهُ الَّذِي جَعَلَ لَهُ بِأَمْرٍ وَ لَا يَدْرِي صَاحِبُهُ مَا الَّذِي حَمَلَهُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ كَيْفَ يَصْنَعُ بِهِ قَالَ يَضَعُهُ حَيْثُ ي

“I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about the case of a man whose death approaches him on a journey. He gives his assets to a man of the merchants saying, ‘This asset belongs to so and so son of so and so. Nothing of it, little or more, belongs to me. You must give it to him, he will place it as he wants’; and he dies,

عَنْ رَجُلٍ أَوْصَى إِلَى رَجُلٍ أَنْ يُعْطِيَ قَرَابَتَهُ مِنْ ضَيْعَتِهِ كَذَا وَ كَذَا جَرِيباً مِنْ طَعَامٍ فَمَرَّتْ عَلَيْهِ سِنُونَ لَمْ يَكُنْ فِي ضَيْعَتِهِ فَضْلٌ بَلِ احْتَاجَ إِلَى السَّلَفِ وَ الْعِينَةِ عَلَى مَنْ أَوْصَى لَهُ مِنَ السَّلَفِ وَ الْعِينَةِ أَمْ لَا فَإِنْ أَصَابَهُمْ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ يُجْرِ عَلَيْهِمْ لِمَا فَاتَهُمْ مِنَ السِّنِينَ الْمَاضِيَةِ فَقَالَ كَأَنِّي لَا أُبَالِي إِنْ أَعْطَاهُم

“A man made a will to another man to give his relatives from his asset (land) such and such Jarib (a certain unit of measurement) of food. Many years passed but there was no extra in his asset; instead he needed to borrow and arrange for al-‘Aynah on the beneficiary of the will. Is it necessary to arrange a loan and al

لِلْوَصِيِّ أَنْ يَعْزِلَ أَرْضاً بِقَدْرِ مَا يُخْرِجُ مِنْهُ وَصَايَاهُ إِذَا قَسَمَ الْوَرَثَةُ وَ لَا يُدْخِلَ هَذِهِ الْأَرْضَ فِي قِسْمَتِهِمْ أَمْ كَيْفَ يَصْنَعُ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ كَذَا يَنْبَغِي.

“A man has made a will which requires giving a certain amount to his relative. The heir becomes mature and tells the executor of the will to separate from the land an area that can meet the required amount by the will and that portion must not be included in what the heirs distribute among themselves. How must the exec

سَأَلْتُهُ يَعْنِي أَبَا الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع- عَنْ رَجُلٍ‌[3] كَانَ لَهُ ابْنٌ يَدَّعِيهِ فَنَفَاهُ وَ أَخْرَجَهُ مِنَ الْمِيرَاثِ وَ أَنَا وَصِيُّهُ فَكَيْفَ أَصْنَعُ فَقَالَ يَعْنِي الرِّضَا ع لَزِمَهُ الْوَلَدُ بِإِقْرَارِهِ بِالْمَشْهَدِ لَا يَدْفَعُهُ الْوَصِيُّ عَنْ شَيْ‌ءٍ قَدْ عَلِمَهُ.

“I once asked him [abu al-Hassan, al-Rida’ (a.s.) ] about the case of a man who has a son, whom he called his son then denied and removed him from the list of his heirs, and I am the executor of the will. What must I do? He, al-Rida’ ‘Alayhi al-Salam, said, ‘He is considered his son because of his confession in public.

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ كَانَتْ لَهُ عِنْدِي دَنَانِيرُ وَ كَانَ مَرِيضاً فَقَالَ لِي إِنْ حَدَثَ بِي حَدَثٌ فَأَعْطِ فُلَاناً عِشْرِينَ دِينَاراً وَ أَعْطِ أَخِي بَقِيَّةَ الدَّنَانِيرِ فَمَاتَ وَ لَمْ أَشْهَدْ مَوْتَهُ فَأَتَانِي رَجُلٌ مُسْلِمٌ صَادِقٌ فَقَالَ لِي إِنَّهُ أَمَرَنِي أَنْ أَقُولَ لَكَ انْظُرِ الدَّنَانِيرَ الَّتِي أَمَرْتُكَ أَنْ تَدْفَعَهَا إِلَى أَخِي فَتَصَدَّقْ مِنْهَا بِعَشَرَةِ دَنَانِيرَ اقْسِ

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who has a certain amount of dinars with me and he is ill. He said to me that if something happens to him I must then give twenty dinar to so and so and the remaining to his brother. He died and I was not present at the time of his death. A truthful Muslim cam

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ كَانَ غَارِماً فَهَلَكَ فَأُخِذَ بَعْضُ وُلْدِهِ بِمَا كَانَ عَلَيْهِ فَغُرِّمُوا غُرْماً عَنْ أَبِيهِمْ فَانْطَلَقُوا إِلَى دَارِهِ فَابْتَاعُوهَا وَ مَعَهُمْ وَرَثَةٌ غَيْرُهُمْ نِسَاءٌ وَ رِجَالٌ لَمْ يُطْلِقُوا الْبَيْعَ وَ لَمْ يَسْتَأْمِرُوهُمْ فِيهِ فَهَلْ عَلَيْهِمْ فِي ذَلِكَ شَيْ‌ءٌ فَقَالَ إِذَا كَانَ إِنَّمَا أَصَابَ الدَّارَ مِنْ عَمَلِهِ ذَلِكَ فَإِنَّمَا غُرِّمُوا فِي ذَلِكَ الْع

“I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about the case of a man who was indebted and he died. Certain ones of his sons took charge of what he did (business) and they suffered losses. They bought his house, which was of the legacy shared by other heirs, male and female who did not approve the sale and had not asked them to

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَوْصِنِي فَقَالَ أَعِدَّ جَهَازَكَ وَ قَدِّمْ زَادَكَ وَ كُنْ وَصِيَّ نَفْسِكَ وَ لَا تَقُلْ لِغَيْرِكَ يَبْعَثُ إِلَيْكَ بِمَا يُصْلِحُكَ.

“I once asked abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), to give me an advice. He (the Imam) said, ‘Prepare your supplies, send them ahead of you, be the executor of your own will and do not say to others to send for you what is good for your well-being. 5 ”

كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع أُعْلِمُهُ أَنَّ إِسْحَاقَ بْنَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَقَفَ ضَيْعَةً عَلَى الْحَجِّ وَ أُمِّ وَلَدِهِ وَ مَا فَضَلَ عَنْهَا لِلْفُقَرَاءِ وَ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ أَشْهَدَنِي عَلَى نَفْسِهِ بِمَالٍ لِيُفَرَّقَ عَلَى إِخْوَانِنَا وَ أَنَّ فِي بَنِي هَاشِمٍ مَنْ يُعْرَفُ حَقُّهُ يَقُولُ بِقَوْلِنَا مِمَّنْ هُوَ مُحْتَاجٌ فَتَرَى أَنْ أَصْرِفَ ذَلِكَ إِلَيْهِمْ إِذَا كَانَ سَبِيلُهُ س

“I wrote to abu Ja‘far (a.s.), to inform him (the Imam) that Ishaq ibn Ibrahim has endowed his asset for al-Hajj, the mother of his children and the extra for the needy; that Muhammad ibn Ibrahim appointed me as a witness upon himself for a certain amount of funds to be distributed among our brothers (in belief) and in

إِنَّمَا أَدْفَعُهُ إِلَيْكَ لِيَكُونَ ذُخْراً لِابْنَتَيَّ فُلَانَةَ وَ فُلَانَةَ ثُمَّ بَدَا لِلشَّيْخِ بَعْدَ مَا دَفَعَ الْمَالَ أَنْ يَأْخُذَ مِنْهُ خَمْسَةً وَ عِشْرِينَ وَ مِائَةَ دِينَارٍ فَاشْتَرَى بِهَا جَارِيَةً لِابْنِ ابْنِهِ ثُمَّ إِنَّ الشَّيْخَ هَلَكَ فَوَقَعَ بَيْنَ الْجَارِيَتَيْنِ وَ بَيْنَ الْغُلَامِ أَوْ إِحْدَاهُمَا فَقَالَتَا لَهُ وَيْحَكَ وَ اللَّهِ إِنَّكَ لَتَنْكِحُ جَارِيَتَكَ حَرَاماً إِنّ

“About the case of a man who has given a certain amount of assets to another man saying, ‘I give it to you to save it for my two daughters so and so and so and so.’ The old man later after giving the funds decided to take one hundred twenty-five dinar back to buy a slave-girl for his grandson. The old man then died; an

سَأَلْتُ الرِّضَا ع عَنْ رَجُلٍ مَاتَ بِغَيْرِ وَصِيَّةٍ وَ تَرَكَ أَوْلَاداً ذُكْرَاناً [وَ إِنَاثاً] وَ غِلْمَاناً صِغَاراً وَ تَرَكَ جَوَارِيَ وَ مَمَالِيكَ هَلْ يَسْتَقِيمُ أَنْ تُبَاعَ الْجَوَارِي قَالَ نَعَمْ وَ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَصْحَبُ الرَّجُلَ فِي سَفَرِهِ فَيَحْدُثُ بِهِ حَدَثُ الْمَوْتِ وَ لَا يُدْرِكُ الْوَصِيَّةَ كَيْفَ يَصْنَعُ بِمَتَاعِهِ وَ لَهُ أَوْلَادٌ صِغَارٌ وَ كِبَارٌ أَ يَجُوزُ أَنْ يَدْفَعَ مَت

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya and others have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from ’Isma‘il ibn Sa‘d al-Ash‘ariy who has narrated the following: “I once asked al-Rida’, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, about the case of a man who dies without a will and leaves behind heirs of male and female, small boys and slave-girls and slaves i