Hadith 8854

Chapter 3

باب 3

(3) باب الْوَصِيَّةِ بِالثُّلُثِ

(3) Chapter: Bequeathing One-Third
23
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْوَلِيدِ الْفَحَّامُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رَبِيعَةَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَتَى سَعْدًا يَعُودُهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ سَعْدٌ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أُوصِي بِثُلُثَىْ مَالِي قَالَ " لاَ ". قَالَ فَأُوصِي بِالنِّصْفِ قَالَ " لاَ ". قَالَ فَأُوصِي بِالثُّلُثِ قَالَ " نَعَمِ الثُّلُثَ وَالثُّلُثُ كَثِيرٌ أَوْ كَبِيرٌ إِنَّكَ أَنْ تَدَعَ وَرَثَتَكَ أَغْنِيَاءَ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَنْ تَدَعَهُمْ فُقَرَاءَ يَتَكَفَّفُونَ ".

It was narrated from 'Aishah that the Messenger of Allah came to visit Sa'd (when he was sick). Sa'd said to him:
"O Messenger of Allah, shall I bequeath two-thirds of my wealth?" He said: "No." He said: "Shall I bequeath half?" He said: "No." He said: "Shall I bequeath one-third?" He said: "Yes, one-third, and one-third is much or large. If you leave your heirs independent of means that is better than if you leave them poor, holding out their hands."

Reference: Sunan an-Nasa'i 3633

In-book reference: Book 30, Hadith 23

English translation: Vol. 4, Book 30, Hadith 3663