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 عَنْ زُرَارَةَ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ وَرِثَ عَلِيٌّ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عِلْمَ رَسُولِ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَوَرِثَتْ فَاطِمَةُ (عَلَيْهِا السَّلام) تَرِكَتَهُ.

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim narrated from his father from Ibn Abu 'Umayr from Jamil Ibn Darraj from Zurarah that Abu Ja’far (al-Baqir) (as) said: "Ali (as) inherited the knowledge of Rasulullah (sw) and Fatima (as) inherited his legacy (property)." 

2- أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَسْبَاطٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ عَنْ حَيْدَرٍ عَنْ حَمْزَةَ بْنِ حُمْرَانَ قَالَ قُلْتُ لأبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) مَنْ وَرِثَ رَسُولَ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) فَقَالَ فَاطِمَةُ (عَلَيْهِا السَّلام) وَوَرِثَتْهُ مَتَاعَ الْبَيْتِ وَالْخُرْثِيَّ وَكُلَّ مَا كَانَ لَهُ.

2. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from Ali ibn al-Hassan from Ali ibn Asbat from al-Hassan ibn Ali ibn ‘Abd al-Malik, Hayde r from Hamzah ibn Humran who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), ’Who inherited the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause?’ He (the Imam) said, ’Fatimah, ‘Alayha al-Salam, inherited his household assets and all that belonged to him (the Messenger of Allah).”’ 

3- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ جَمِيلِ بْنِ دَرَّاجٍ عَنْ سَلَمَةَ بْنِ مُحْرِزٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لأبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِنَّ رَجُلا أَرْمَانِيّاً مَاتَ وَأَوْصَى إِلَيَّ فَقَالَ لِي وَمَا الأرْمَانِيُّ قُلْتُ نَبَطِيٌّ مِنْ أَنْبَاطِ الْجِبَالِ مَاتَ وَأَوْصَى إِلَيَّ بِتَرِكَتِهِ وَتَرَكَ ابْنَتَهُ قَالَ فَقَالَ لِي أَعْطِهَا النِّصْفَ قَالَ فَأَخْبَرْتُ زُرَارَةَ بِذَلِكَ فَقَالَ لِي اتَّقَاكَ إِنَّمَا الْمَالُ لَهَا قَالَ فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَيْهِ بَعْدُ فَقُلْتُ أَصْلَحَكَ اللهُ إِنَّ أَصْحَابَنَا زَعَمُوا أَنَّكَ اتَّقَيْتَنِي فَقَالَ لا وَاللهِ مَا اتَّقَيْتُكَ وَلَكِنِ اتَّقَيْتُ عَلَيْكَ أَنْ تُضَمَّنَ فَهَلْ عَلِمَ بِذَلِكَ أَحَدٌ قُلْتُ لا قَالَ فَأَعْطِهَا مَا بَقِيَ.

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Jamil ibn Darraj from Salmah ibn Muhriz who has narrated the following: “I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), that an Armani man has died and has made a will to me. He (the Imam) asked, ‘What is Armaniy?’ I replied, ‘He is a Nabatiy from Nabatiy people of mountains who has died. He has made a will to me about his legacy and has left behind his daughter.’ He (the Imam) said to me, ‘Give her one-half.’ I then informed Zurarah about it and he said, ‘He (the Imam) has been protective ( taqiyah ) of you, otherwise, all the legacy belongs to the daughter.’ He (the narrator) has said that I then visited him (the Imam) afterwards and said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep you well, our people think that you have been protective with me.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘No, by Allah I have not been protective of you, but I have been protective against you to be held responsible; has anyone had any knowledge of it?’ I replied, ‘No, no one knows.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Give her the rest of her legacy.’” 

4- أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الأشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ خِدَاشٍ الْمِنْقَرِيِّ أَنَّهُ سَأَلَ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنْ رَجُلٍ مَاتَ وَتَرَكَ ابْنَتَهُ وَأَخَاهُ قَالَ الْمَالُ لِلابْنَةِ.

4. Abu Ali al-Ash‘ariy has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan from ‘Abd Allah ibn Khidash al-Minqariy who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about the case of a man who dies and leaves behind his daughter and his brother. He (the Imam) said, ‘The legacy belongs to his daughter.’” 

5- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ جَمِيعاً عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنِ ابْنِ رِئَابٍ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فِي رَجُلٍ مَاتَ وَتَرَكَ ابْنَتَهُ وَأُخْتَهُ لأبِيهِ وَأُمِّهِ قَالَ الْمَالُ لِلابْنَةِ وَلَيْسَ لِلأخْتِ مِنَ الأبِ وَالأمِّ شَيْ‏ءٌ.

5. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad and a number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad all from ibn Mahbub from ibn Ri’ab from Zurarah who has narrated the following: “About the case of a man who dies and leaves behind his daughter and his sister from his father and mother, he (the Imam) said, ‘The legacy belongs to his daughter and there is nothing for the sister from his father and mother.’” 

6- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ عَنْ بُرَيْدٍ الْعِجْلِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ رَجُلٌ مَاتَ وَتَرَكَ ابْنَتَهُ وَعَمَّهُ قَالَ الْمَالُ لِلابْنَةِ وَلَيْسَ لِلْعَمِّ شَيْ‏ءٌ أَوْ قَالَ لَيْسَ لِلْعَمِّ مَعَ الابْنَةِ شَيْ‏ءٌ.

6. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Urwah from Burayd al- ‘ Ij liy who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu Ja’far (a.s.), about the case of a man who dies and leaves behind his daughter and uncle. He (the Imam) said, ‘The legacy belongs to his daughter and there is nothing for the uncle, aunt’, or that he (the Imam) said, ‘There is nothing for the uncle with the existence of the daughter.’” 

7- حُمَيْدُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سَمَاعَةَ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ جَبَلَةَ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ بُكَيْرٍ عَنْ حَمْزَةَ بْنِ حُمْرَانَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الْحَمِيدِ الطَّائِيِّ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ مُحْرِزٍ بَيَّاعِ الْقَلانِسِ قَالَ أَوْصَى إِلَيَّ رَجُلٌ وَتَرَكَ خَمْسَمِائَةِ دِرْهَمٍ أَوْ سِتَّمِائَةِ دِرْهَمٍ وَتَرَكَ ابْنَةً وَقَالَ لِي عَصَبَةٌ بِالشَّامِ فَسَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنْ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ أَعْطِ الابْنَةَ النِّصْفَ وَالْعَصَبَةَ النِّصْفَ الآخَرَ فَلَمَّا قَدِمْتُ الْكُوفَةَ أَخْبَرْتُ أَصْحَابَنَا بِقَوْلِهِ فَقَالُوا اتَّقَاكَ فَأَعْطَيْتُ الابْنَةَ النِّصْفَ الآخَرَ ثُمَّ حَجَجْتُ فَلَقِيتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ بِمَا قَالَ أَصْحَابُنَا وَأَخْبَرْتُهُ أَنِّي دَفَعْتُ النِّصْفَ الآخَرَ إِلَى الابْنَةِ فَقَالَ أَحْسَنْتَ إِنَّمَا أَفْتَيْتُكَ مَخَافَةَ الْعَصَبَةِ عَلَيْكَ.

7. Humayd ibn Ziyad has narrated from al-Husayn ibn Muhammad ibn Sama‘ah from ‘Abd Alfah ibn Jabalah from ‘Abd Alfah ibn Bukayr from Hamzah ibn Humran from ‘Abd ai-Hamid af-Ta”iy from ‘Abd Affah ibn Muhriz Bayya‘ ai-Qaianisiy who has narrated the foiiowing: “A man made a will about five hundred dirhams or six hundred dirhams, leaving behind his daughter, and told me that his paternal relatives are in Sham. I asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about it and he (the Imam) said, ‘Give one-half to his daughter and the other half to his paternal relatives.’ When I returned to al-Kufah, I told our people about it and they said that he (the Imam) has said so because of taqiyah (fear). I then gave the other half to his daughter; then I went for al-Hajj and visited abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.). I informed him (the Imam) about what our people had said and that I have given the other half also to his daughter. He (the Imam) said, ‘You have done good. I gave the fatwa that I did because of fear for you from the paternal relatives.’” 

8- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ أُذَيْنَةَ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ مُحْرِزٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ رَجُلٌ تَرَكَ ابْنَتَهُ وَأُخْتَهُ لأبِيهِ وَأُمِّهِ قَالَ الْمَالُ كُلُّهُ لِلابْنَةِ وَلَيْسَ لِلأخْتِ مِنَ الأبِ وَالأمِّ شَيْ‏ءٌ.

8. Afi ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from ‘Umar ibn ’Udhaynah from ‘Abd Allah ibn Muhriz who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who dies and leaves behind his daughter and his sister from his mother and father. He (the Imam) said, ‘The legacy belongs to his daughter and there is nothing for his sister from his mother and father.’” 

9- حُمَيْدُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْكِنْدِيِّ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ الْمِيثَمِيِّ عَنْ أَبَانِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ مُحْرِزٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنْ رَجُلٍ أَوْصَى إِلَيَّ وَهَلَكَ وَتَرَكَ ابْنَةً فَقَالَ أَعْطِ الابْنَةَ النِّصْفَ وَاتْرُكْ لِلْمَوَالِي النِّصْفَ فَرَجَعْتُ فَقَالَ أَصْحَابُنَا لا وَاللهِ مَا لِلْمَوَالِي شَيْ‏ءٌ فَرَجَعْتُ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ قَابِلٍ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ إِنَّ أَصْحَابَنَا قَالُوا لَيْسَ لِلْمَوَالِي شَيْ‏ءٌ وَإِنَّمَا اتَّقَاكَ فَقَالَ لا وَاللهِ مَا اتَّقَيْتُكَ وَلَكِنِّي خِفْتُ عَلَيْكَ أَنْ تُؤْخَذَ بِالنِّصْفِ فَإِنْ كُنْتَ لا تَخَافُ فَادْفَعِ النِّصْفَ الآخَرَ إِلَى الابْنَةِ فَإِنَّ اللهَ سَيُؤَدِّي عَنْكَ. 

9. Humayd ibn Ziyad has narrated from al-Hassan ibn Muhammad al-Kindiy from Ahmad ibn al-Hassan al-Mithamiy from Aban ibn ‘Uthman from ‘Abd Allah ibn Muhriz who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who made a will to me and died, leaving behind his daughter. He (the Imam) said, ‘Give one-half to his daughter and leave the other half for al-Mawali (friends, guardians or masters).’ I then returned to our people and they said, ‘No, by Allah, there is nothing for al-Mawali.’ I went back to him (the Imam) and informed him that our people say, ‘There is nothing for al-Mawali. He (the Imam) has said so because of fear (taqiyah).’ He (the Imam) said, ‘No, by Allah, I did not do so because of fear ( taqiyah ) but I was afraid for you that you will be asked about one-half. If you are not afraid; give the other half also to his daughter and Allah will relieve you of the burden.’” 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 7

Book 2, Chapter 12