Chapter on Bequests for Manumission, Charity, and Hajj

أَبَا حَنِيفَةَ فَقَالَ يُجْعَلُ ذَلِكَ أَثْلَاثاً ثُلُثاً فِي الْحَجِّ وَ ثُلُثاً فِي الْعِتْقِ وَ ثُلُثاً فِي الصَّدَقَةِ فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَقُلْتُ لَهُ إِنَّ امْرَأَةً مِنْ أَهْلِي مَاتَتْ وَ أَوْصَتْ إِلَيَّ بِثُلُثِ مَالِهَا وَ أَمَرَتْ أَنْ يُعْتَقَ عَنْهَا وَ يُحَجَّ عَنْهَا وَ يُتَصَدَّقَ عَنْهَا فَنَظَرْتُ فِيهِ فَلَمْ يَبْلُغْ فَقَالَ ع ابْدَأْ بِالْحَجِّ فَإِنَّهُ فَرِيضَةٌ مِنْ فَرَ

A woman from my family entrusted me with her wealth and instructed that emancipation (of slaves) be made on her behalf, that Hajj be performed, and that charity be given. However, the amount left was insufficient to cover all that. I consulted Abu Hanifah, and he said: "It should be divided into three parts - one-third

لَهُمَا أَنْتُمَا أَحْرَارٌ لِوَجْهِ اللَّهِ فَاشْهَدَا أَنَّ مَا فِي بَطْنِ جَارِيَتِي هَذِهِ مِنِّي فَوَلَدَتْ غُلَاماً فَلَمَّا قَدِمُوا عَلَى الْوَرَثَةِ أَنْكَرُوا ذَلِكَ وَ اسْتَرَقُّوهُمْ ثُمَّ إِنَّ الْغُلَامَيْنِ أُعْتِقَا بَعْدُ فَشَهِدَا بَعْدَ مَا أُعْتِقَا أَنَّ مَوْلَيهُمَا الْأَوَّلَ أَشْهَدَهُمَا أَنَّ مَا فِي بَطْنِ جَارِيَتِهِ مِنْهُ قَالَ تَجُوزُ شَهَادَتُهُمَا لِلْغُلَامِ وَ لَا يَسْتَرِقَّهُمَا ا

Abu Abdullah Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) was asked about a man who was on a journey with a female slave and two male servant slaves. The man said to the two male slaves, "You both are free for the sake of Allah (swt). Bear witness that what is in the womb of this bondwoman is from me." Later, the bondwoman ga

أَعْتِقْ فُلَاناً وَ فُلَاناً وَ فُلَاناً حَتَّى ذَكَرَ خَمْسَةً فَنُظِرَ فِي ثُلُثِهِ فَلَمْ يَبْلُغْ ثُلُثُهُ أَثْمَانَ قِيمَةِ الْمَمَالِيكِ الْخَمْسَةِ الَّذِينَ أَمَرَ بِعِتْقِهِمْ‌[3] قَالَ يُنْظَرُ إِلَى الَّذِينَ سَمَّاهُمْ وَ بَدَأَ بِعِتْقِهِمْ فَيُقَوَّمُونَ وَ يُنْظَرُ إِلَى ثُلُثِهِ فَيُعْتَقُ مِنْهُ أَوَّلُ شَيْ‌ءٍ ذَكَرَ ثُمَّ الثَّانِي وَ الثَّالِثُ ثُمَّ الرَّابِعُ ثُمَّ الْخَامِسُ فَإِنْ عَجَزَ الثّ

Hadith.5493 - Al-Hasan ibn Mahbub narrated from Abu Jamilah from Humran from Abu Jafar Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as) regarding a man who, on his deathbed, made a will saying, "Free so-and-so, and so-and-so, and so-and-so," until he mentioned five individuals. When his estate was assessed, it was found that one-th

يُمْضَى عِتْقُ الْغُلَامِ وَ يَكُونُ النُّقْصَانُ فِيمَا بَقِيَ‌[4].

I asked Imam (as) about a man who, when death approached him, freed his slave and made a will, but the total of his bequests exceeded one-third of his estate. Imam (as) replied: "The emancipation of the slave is to be carried out, and any reduction should be applied to what remains (of the bequests beyond the one-third

يُبْدَأُ بِالْعِتْقِ فَيُنْفَذُ[5].

Hadith.5495 - Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Isa narrated from Abu Hammam Ismail ibn Hammam from Abu Al-Hasan (as) regarding a man who, at the time of his death, made a will bequeathing wealth to his relatives and also freed a slave. However, the total of what he bequeathed exceeded one-third of his estate. He was asked how th

وَ رَوَى النَّضْرُ بْنُ شُعَيْبٍ عَنْ خَالِدِ بْنِ مَادٍّ عَنِ الْجَازِيِ‌[1] عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ فِي رَجُلٍ تُوُفِّيَ فَتَرَكَ جَارِيَةً أَعْتَقَ ثُلُثَهَا فَتَزَوَّجَهَا الْوَصِيُّ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُقْسَمَ شَيْ‌ءٌ مِنَ الْمِيرَاثِ أَنَّهَا تُقَوَّمُ وَ تُسْتَسْعَى هِيَ وَ زَوْجُهَا فِي بَقِيَّةِ ثَمَنِهَا بَعْدَ مَا تُقَوَّمُ فَمَا أَصَابَ الْمَرْأَةَ مِنْ عِتْقٍ أَوْ رِقٍّ جَرَى عَلَى وَلَدِهَا[2].

Hadith.5496 - Al-Nadr ibn Shuayb narrated from Khalid ibn Maad from Al-Jazi from Abu Abdullah (as) regarding a man who passed away and left behind a slave woman of whom he had freed one-third. The executor of his will married her before any division of the inheritance had taken place. Imam (as) said: "She should be app

أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع عَنِ الرَّجُلِ تَحْضُرُهُ الْوَفَاةُ وَ لَهُ مَمَالِيكُ لِخَاصَّةِ نَفْسِهِ وَ مَمَالِيكُ فِي الشِّرْكَةِ مَعَ رَجُلٍ آخَرَ فَيُوصِي فِي وَصِيَّتِهِ مَمَالِيكِي أَحْرَارٌ مَا خَلَا مَمَالِيكِيَ الَّذِينَ فِي الشِّرْكَةِ[4] فَكَتَبَ ع يُقَوَّمُونَ عَلَيْهِ إِنْ كَانَ مَالُهُ يَحْتَمِلُ‌[5] ثُمَّ هُمْ‌

I asked Abu Al-Hasan (as) about a man who was on his deathbed and had slaves solely for himself and others jointly owned with another person. In his will, he stated, "My slaves are free, except for those who are in partnership." Imam (as) wrote in response: "They should be appraised against his estate, and if his wealt

لَهُ إِنَّ عَلْقَمَةَ بْنَ مُحَمَّدٍ أَوْصَى أَنْ أُعْتِقَ عَنْهُ رَقَبَةً فَأَعْتَقْتُ عَنْهُ امْرَأَةً أَ فَتُجْزِيهِ أَوْ أُعْتِقُ عَنْهُ مِنْ مَالِي قَالَ يُجْزِيهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّ فَاطِمَةَ أُمَّ ابْنِي أَوْصَتْ أَنْ أُعْتِقَ عَنْهَا رَقَبَةً فَأَعْتَقْتُ عَنْهَا امْرَأَةً[3].

I asked Abu Abdullah (as), "Alqamah ibn Muhammad instructed me in his will to free a slave on his behalf, so I freed a female slave for him. Is that sufficient, or should I free another from my own wealth?" Imam (as) replied: "It suffices him." Then Imam (as) added, "Indeed, Faṭimah, the mother of my son, had instructe

إِنْ كَانَ صَرُورَةً حُجَّ عَنْهُ مِنْ وَسَطِ الْمَالِ‌[4] وَ إِنْ كَانَ غَيْرَ صَرُورَةٍ فَمِنَ الثُّلُثِ‌[5].

I asked Imam (as) about a man who died and had instructed that Hajj be performed on his behalf. Imam (as) replied: "If he had never performed Hajj (was a ṣarurah), then Hajj should be performed on his behalf from the middle of his wealth. But if he was not a ṣarurah, then it should be performed from one-third of his we

وَ قَالَ‌ فِي امْرَأَةٍ أَوْصَتْ بِمَالٍ فِي عِتْقٍ وَ حَجٍّ وَ صَدَقَةٍ فَلَمْ يَبْلُغْ قَالَ ابْدَأْ بِالْحَجِّ فَإِنَّهُ مَفْرُوضٌ فَإِنْ بَقِيَ شَيْ‌ءٌ فَاجْعَلْ فِي الصَّدَقَةِ طَائِفَةً وَ فِي الْعِتْقِ طَائِفَةً[6].

Hadith.5500 - And Imam (as) said regarding a woman who bequeathed her wealth for emancipation (freeing slaves), performing Hajj, and giving charity, but her wealth was insufficient: "Begin with Hajj because it is an obligation. If anything remains, allocate a portion for charity and a portion for emancipation."

أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع عَنْ رَجُلٍ أَوْصَى بِثَلَاثِينَ دِينَاراً يُعْتَقُ بِهَا رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا فَلَمْ يُوجَدْ بِذَلِكَ قَالَ يُشْتَرَى‌ مِنَ النَّاسِ فَيُعْتَقُ‌[1].

I asked Abu Al-Hasan (as) about a man who bequeathed thirty dinar for the emancipation of a man from among our companions, but no such person was found. Imam (as) said: "A person should be purchased from among the people and then emancipated."

وَ رَوَى عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ عَنْهُ ع أَنَّهُ قَالَ‌ فَلْيَشْتَرُوا مِنْ عُرْضِ النَّاسِ مَا لَمْ يَكُنْ نَاصِبِيّاً[2].

Hadith.5502 - Ali ibn Abi Hamzah narrated from Imam (as) that he said: "Then let them purchase from among the general people as long as he is not a Naṣibi (one who harbors enmity towards the Ahl Al-Bayt (as))."

وَ رَوَى أَبَانُ بْنُ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مَرْوَانَ عَنِ الشَّيْخِ يَعْنِي مُوسَى بْنَ جَعْفَرٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ ع أَنَّهُ قَالَ‌ إِنَّ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع مَاتَ وَ تَرَكَ سِتِّينَ مَمْلُوكاً فَأَعْتَقَ ثُلُثَهُمْ فَأَقْرَعْتُ بَيْنَهُمْ وَ أَعْتَقْتُ الثُّلُثَ.

Hadith.5503 - Aban ibn Uthman narrated from Muhammad ibn Marwan from the Shaykh, meaning Imam Musa ibn Jafar Al-Kadhim (as), from his father, Abu Abdullah Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as), peace be upon them both, that Imam (as) said: "Indeed, Abu Jafar Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as), passed away and left six

أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع عَنْ مُحَرَّرَةٍ كَانَ أَعْتَقَهَا أَخِي وَ قَدْ كَانَتْ تَخْدُمُ الْجَوَارِيَ وَ كَانَتْ فِي عِيَالِهِ فَأَوْصَانِي أَنْ أُنْفِقَ عَلَيْهَا مِنَ الْوَسَطِ فَقَالَ إِنْ كَانَتْ مَعَ الْجَوَارِي وَ أَقَامَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ فَأَنْفِقْ عَلَيْهَا وَ اتَّبِعْ وَصِيَّتَهُ‌[3].

I asked Abu Jafar Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as), about a freed woman whom my brother had emancipated. She used to serve the maidservants and was living among his family. He had instructed me to spend on her moderately. Abu Jafar (as), said: "If she remained with the maidservants and continued serving them, then s

أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ رَجُلٍ أَوْصَى أَنْ يُعْتَقَ عَنْهُ نَسَمَةٌ مِنْ ثُلُثِهِ بِخَمْسِمِائَةِ دِرْهَمٍ فَاشْتَرَى الْوَصِيُّ نَسَمَةً بِأَقَلَّ مِنْ خَمْسِمِائَةِ دِرْهَمٍ وَ فَضَلَتْ فَضْلَةٌ فَمَا تَرَى فِي الْفَضْلَةِ قَالَ تُدْفَعُ إِلَى النَّسَمَةِ مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ تُعْتَقَ ثُمَّ تُعْتَقُ عَنِ الْمَيِّتِ‌[4].

I asked Abu Abdullah (as), about a man who had made a will that a soul be freed on his behalf from one-third of his wealth with five hundred dirhams. The executor of the will bought a soul for less than five hundred, and some amount remained. What do you say about the remaining amount? Imam (as) said: "It should be giv