Chapter on Rare Cases of Bequests

Ibn Faddal narrated from Ali ibn Uqbah from Burayd ibn Mu'awiyah from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام, who said: I said to Imam عليه السلام: "A man appointed me as his executor, and I asked him to appoint a relative of his to share the responsibility with me, and he agreed. The one who appointed me mentioned that the co-executor owed him one hundred and fifty dirhams and that he had a silver cup as collateral for this debt. When the man passed away, the co-executor began to claim that he was owed sacks of wheat instead." Abu Abdullah عليه السلام, said: "If he brings proof, then his claim is valid; otherwise, he has no right to anything." I asked: "Is it permissible for him to take anything from what is in his possession?" Imam عليه السلام replied: "It is not permissible for him." I then asked: "What if someone wrongfully took his wealth, and he found the opportunity to take back from that person's wealth the equivalent of what was taken from him - would that be permissible?" Imam عليه السلام replied: "This is not the same as that."