Hadith 2711

حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ ، حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ، قَالَ : وَدِدْتُ أَنَّ النَّاسَ غَضُّوا مِنَ الثُّلُثِ إِلَى الرُّبُعِ ، لِأَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ : " الثُّلُثُ كَبِيرٌ أَوْ كَثِيرٌ " .
´It was narrated that Ibn Abbas said:` “I would like the people to reduce (the will) from one third to one quarter, because the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'One third is a lot.'”
Hadith Reference سنن ابن ماجه / كتاب الوصايا / 2711
Hadith Grading الألبانی: صحيح  |  زبیر علی زئی: متفق عليه
Hadith Takhrij «صحیح البخاری/الوصایا 3 ( 2743 ) ، صحیح مسلم/الوصایا1 ( 1629 ) ، سنن النسائی/الوصایا 3 ( 3664 ) ، ( تحفة الأ شراف : 8404 ) ، وقد آخرجہ : مسند احمد ( 1/230 ، 233 ) ( صحیح ) »
Explanation & Benefits
Shaykh Maulana Abdul Aziz Alvi
Hadith Commentary: Benefits and Issues: Statements from some Companions (radi Allahu anhum) and Followers (tabi‘in) have been transmitted regarding making it less than a quarter. The fundamental principle is that the person making the bequest should consider the amount of his estate, the number of his heirs, and their needs, and thus make it less than a third. However, during his lifetime, he may spend as much as he wishes in the way of Allah (fi sabilillah) or on righteous deeds; there is no restriction upon this.
Source: Tuhfat al-Muslim: Commentary on Sahih Muslim, Page: 4218
Shaykh Muhammad Ibrahim bin Basheer
Benefit:
In this hadith, the limit of bequest (wasiyyah) has been specified: it is permissible to make a bequest for up to one third of one’s wealth; making a bequest for more than this is not allowed. Unfortunately, some people, out of anger or excessive love for someone, make a bequest for their entire wealth—this is a sin, and it is not effective. If a person makes such a bequest, it will not be acted upon.
Source: Musnad al-Humaydi: Commentary by Muhammad Ibrahim bin Bashir, Page: 531