Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

Qutham, the freed slave of Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them), narrates that Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The executor of my will is my eldest son, while I have not wronged him in matters of the stomach or the private parts.

Nafi' narrates that Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) said that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: It is obligatory upon a Muslim man that two nights should not pass while he has something worthy of making a will about, and he has not written his will and kept it with him.

It is narrated from Dawood that Hazrat Aamir said: Whoever made a will and did not wrong anyone in it nor caused harm to anyone, he will receive the same reward as he would have received for giving charity during his lifetime in a state of good health.

Ikrimah narrates that Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) said that causing harm to someone through a will is among the major sins. Then he recited this verse: { غَیْرَ مُضَارٍّ وَصِیَّۃً مِنَ اللہِ }.

It is narrated from Sufyan that Habib said: I and Hakam went to Sa'id bin Jubair, and I asked him about the interpretation of the verse { وَلْیَخْشَ الَّذِینَ لَوْ تَرَکُوا مِنْ خَلْفِہِمْ ذُرِّیَّۃً ضِعَافًا خَافُوا عَلَیْہِمْ … سَدِیدًا }. He said: It refers to those people who are present with a dying person at the time of his death and advise him to fear Allah! And the dying person gives something to those present as an act of maintaining family ties and kindness, even though if these people were in his place, they would wish to spend for their own children. Then we went to Miqsam and asked him about the same verse. He asked: What did Sa'id say? We replied: He said such and such. He said: That is not correct. Rather, this verse is about the person who, at the time of death, is being told: Fear Allah and keep your wealth with you! For no one has more right to your wealth than your own children. And if the one making the will is a relative, then they would wish that he makes a will in their favor.

Qasim bin Amr narrates that my father fell ill. I met Hazrat Thumamah bin Huzn Qushayri, and he asked me: Has your father made a will? I said: No! He said: If you are able to have him make a will, then do so, because a will compensates for the deficiency in zakat.

It is narrated from Ikrimah that Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) said that causing harm to someone in a will is among the major sins, then he recited: { وَمَنْ یَعْصِ اللَّہَ وَرَسُولَہُ وَیَتَعَدَّ حُدُودَہُ یُدْخِلْہُ نَارًا خَالِدًا فِیہَا }.

Ibrahim bin Maisarah narrates that I heard Hazrat Tawus say: Any Muslim who firmly intends to make a will, but dies without making it, it is obligatory upon his heirs to make the will on his behalf.

Ibrahim says that the Companions used to dislike dying before making a will, but this was only until the verses of inheritance were revealed.

Hazrat Talha narrates that I asked Ibn Abi Awfa (may Allah be pleased with him): Did the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) make a will? He replied: No! I asked: Then how were people commanded to make a will? He said: He advised to act upon the Book of Allah.

It is narrated from Masruq that Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not leave behind any dinar or dirham, nor did he make a bequest of anything.

It is narrated from Arqam bin Sharhabil that Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) said: The Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) passed away in such a state that he had not made any will.

Aswad narrates that it was mentioned in the presence of Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) was the executor (wasi) of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). She said, "When did the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) make him the executor? I had the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) resting in my lap when his blessed body became limp and he passed away, so when did he make him the executor?"