Explaining the Amount of a Bequest in the Shari'ah
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The Shaykh : So, does a person bequeath one-third, one-quarter, or one-fifth? Most people today bequeath one-third because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) visited Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas (may Allah be pleased with him), and Sa'd consulted him. Sa'd said: Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) said: Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) bequeathed one-fifth of his wealth and said: [Al-Anfal 8:41] to the end of it. So if you want to make a bequest, the share with which it is best to bequeath is one-fifth; this is the best minimum. As for one-third, it is permissible, but it is contrary to what is best, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
Regarding questions, please, do you allow the brother who has a question?
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : We will read it. Okay, read, read.
O Messenger of Allah, I am a man of wealth, meaning much wealth, and the only one who will inherit from me is my daughter. Should I give in charity one-third of my wealth? He said: No. He said: One-half? He said: No. He said: One-third? He said: One-third, and one-third is a lot.
يا رسول الله إني ذو مال أي ذو مال كثير ولا يرثني إلا ابنة لي أفأتصدق بثلثي مالي ؟ قال : لا قال: بالشطر قال: لا قال: بالثلث ؟ قال: الثلث والثلث كثيرIf only people would reduce from one-third to one-quarter, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: One-third is a lot.
لوأن الناس غضوا من الثلث إلى الربع لقول النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم : الثلث كثيرI am pleased with what Allah has pleased with for Himself.
أرضى بما رضيه الله لنفسهAnd know that anything you obtain of war booty - then indeed, for Allah is one fifth of it and for the Messenger and for [his] near relatives
واعلموا أنما غنمتم من شيء فلله خمسه وللرسول ولذي القربىA third, and a third is a lot.
الثلث والثلث كثيرRegarding questions, please, do you allow the brother who has a question?
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : We will read it. Okay, read, read.