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- عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ وَعَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ جَمِيعاً عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ رِئَابٍ عَنْ أَبِي عُبَيْدَةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ تَجُوزُ شَهَادَةُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ عَلَى جَمِيعِ أَهْلِ الْمِلَلِ وَلا تَجُوزُ شَهَادَةُ أَهْلِ الذِّمَّةِ عَلَى الْمُسْلِمِينَ.

1. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad and Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father all from ibn Mahbub from ibn Ri’ab from abu ‘ Ubaydah who has narrated the following: “Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that testimony of Muslims is admissible against the people of all other nations. The testimony of taxpayers is not admissible against Muslims.”’ 

2- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ يُونُسَ عَنْ زُرْعَةَ عَنْ سَمَاعَةَ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنْ شَهَادَةِ أَهْلِ الْمِلَّةِ قَالَ فَقَالَ لا تَجُوزُ إِلا عَلَى أَهْلِ مِلَّتِهِمْ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَجِدْ غَيْرَهُمْ جَازَتْ شَهَادَتُهُمْ عَلَى الْوَصِيَّةِ لأنَّهُ لا يَصْلُحُ ذَهَابُ حَقِّ أَحَدٍ.

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus from Zur’ah from Sama‘ah who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), about the testimony of members of other nations. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is admissible only against the people of their nation, however, if no one can be found to bear witness about the will (of a Muslim), then their testimony is acceptable because invalidating one’s right is not proper.’” 

3- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ النَّوْفَلِيِّ عَنِ السَّكُونِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) الْيَهُودُ وَالنَّصَارَى إِذَا شَهِدُوا ثُمَّ أَسْلَمُوا جَازَتْ شَهَادَتُهُمْ.

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Nawfaliy from al-Sakuniy who has narrated the following: “Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali (a.s.), has said, ‘If Jews and Christians bear testimony then become Muslims, their testimony is admissible.’” 

4- عَلِيٌّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ يُونُسَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ أَحَدِهِمَا (عَلَيْهِما السَّلام) قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الصَّبِيِّ وَالْعَبْدِ وَالنَّصْرَانِيِّ يَشْهَدُونَ بِشَهَادَةٍ فَيُسْلِمُ النَّصْرَانِيُّ أَتَجُوزُ شَهَادَتُهُ قَالَ نَعَمْ.

4. Ali has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has narrated the following: “I once asked one of the two Imam, (abu Ja’far or abu ‘Abd Allah), ‘Alayhim al-Salam, about a child, a slave and a Christian who bear testimony; then the Christian becomes a Muslim, if his testimony becomes admissible. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, it becomes admissible.’” 

5- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي نَجْرَانَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ حُمْرَانَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ نَصْرَانِيٍّ أُشْهِدَ عَلَى شَهَادَةٍ ثُمَّ أَسْلَمَ بَعْدُ أَتَجُوزُ شَهَادَتُهُ قَالَ نَعَمْ هُوَ عَلَى مَوْضِعِ شَهَادَتِهِ.

5. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn abu Najran from Muhammad ibn Humran who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a Christian man who bears a testimony, then becomes a Muslim if his testimony is acceptable. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, he is in the right position to testify.’” 

6- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فِي قَوْلِ اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَوْ آخَرانِ مِنْ غَيْرِكُمْ قَالَ إِذَا كَانَ الرَّجُلُ فِي أَرْضِ غُرْبَةٍ لا يُوجَدُ فِيهَا مُسْلِمٌ جَازَتْ شَهَادَةُ مَنْ لَيْسَ بِمُسْلِمٍ عَلَى الْوَصِيَّةِ.

6. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hisham ibn al-Hakam who has narrated the following: “About the meaning of the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ’. . .or two from people other than your people,’ (5:106) abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘This applies when a man is away from his land where Muslims are not found, then appointing non-Muslims as witness to a will is permissible.’” 

7- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ الْخَزَّازِ عَنْ ضُرَيْسٍ الْكُنَاسِيِّ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنْ شَهَادَةِ أَهْلِ الْمِلَلِ هَلْ تَجُوزُ عَلَى رَجُلٍ مِنْ غَيْرِ أَهْلِ مِلَّتِهِمْ فَقَالَ لا إِلا أَنْ لا يُوجَدَ فِي تِلْكَ الْحَالِ غَيْرُهُمْ فَإِنْ لَمْ يُوجَدْ غَيْرُهُمْ جَازَتْ شَهَادَتُهُمْ فِي الْوَصِيَّةِ لأنَّهُ لا يَصْلُحُ ذَهَابُ حَقِّ امْرِئٍ مُسْلِمٍ وَلا تَبْطُلُ وَصِيَّتُهُ.

7. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from ibn Mahbub from abu Ayyub ‘Abd al-’Aziz al-‘ from Durays al-Kunasiy who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about the testimony of people of other nations if they can be appointed as witness. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, unless no one else can be found, in which case their bearing testimony about a will is permissible, because it is not proper to invalidate the right of a Muslim man and void his will.’” 

8- ابْنُ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ جَمِيلِ بْنِ صَالِحٍ عَنْ حَمْزَةَ بْنِ حُمْرَانَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ قَوْلِ اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ ذَوا عَدْلٍ مِنْكُمْ أَوْ آخَرانِ مِنْ غَيْرِكُمْ قَالَ فَقَالَ اللَّذَانِ مِنْكُمْ مُسْلِمَانِ وَاللَّذَانِ مِنْ غَيْرِكُمْ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ قَالَ فَإِنَّمَا ذَلِكَ إِذَا مَاتَ الرَّجُلُ الْمُسْلِمُ فِي أَرْضِ غُرْبَةٍ فَيَطْلُبُ رَجُلَيْنِ مُسْلِمَيْنِ لِيُشْهِدَهُمَا عَلَى وَصِيَّتِهِ فَلَمْ يَجِدْ مُسْلِمَيْنِ فَلْيُشْهِدْ عَلَى وَصِيَّتِهِ رَجُلَيْنِ ذِمِّيَّيْنِ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ مَرْضِيَّيْنِ عِنْدَ أَصْحَابِهِمَا. 

8. Ibn Mahbub has narrated from Jamil ibn Salih from Hamzah ibn Humran 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, ‘. . . two just man from among you or two men from other people. 5 (5:106) He (the Imam) said, ‘The ‘two from you’ means two Muslims, the ‘two from other people 5 means from the followers of the book. 5 He (the Imam) then said, ‘This can happen when a Muslim dies far away from his land where he cannot find two Muslim men, thus he can appoint two taxpayers of the followers of the book who are acceptable among their own people to bear witness to his will." 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 7

Book 5, Chapter 19