Chapter on the Obligation of Returning a Bequest to What is Proper and What the Deceased is Entitled to From His Wealth
Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh|Volume 4|Book 1|Chapter 85
Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh
Volume 4, Book 1, Chapter 85
Chapter on the Obligation of Returning a Bequest to What is Proper and What the Deceased is Entitled to From His Wealth
وَ رُوِيَ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ: أَنَّهُ كَتَبَ إِلَى أَبِي اَلْحَسَنِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ أَنَّ دُرَّةَ بِنْتَ مُقَاتِلٍ تُوُفِّيَتْ وَ تَرَكَتْ ضَيْعَةً أَشْقَاصاً فِي مَوْضِعِ كَذَا وَ أَوْصَتْ لِسَيِّدِنَا فِي أَشْقَاصِهَا بِأَكْثَرَ مِنَ اَلثُّلُثِ وَ نَحْنُ أَوْصِيَاؤُهَا فَأَحْبَبْنَا إِنْهَاءَ ذَلِكَ إِلَى سَيِّدِنَا فَإِنْ أَمَرَنَا بِإِمْضَاءِ اَلْوَصِيَّةِ عَلَى وَجْهِهَا أَمْضَيْنَاهَا وَ إِنْ أَمَرَنَا بِغَيْرِ ذَلِكَ اِنْتَهَيْنَا إِلَى أَمْرِهِ فِي جَمِيعِ مَا يَأْمُرُنَا بِهِ إِنْ شَاءَ اَللَّهُ تَعَالَى فَكَتَبَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ بِخَطِّهِ "لَيْسَ يَجِبُ لَهَا فِي تَرِكَتِهَا إِلاَّ اَلثُّلُثُ فَإِنْ تَفَضَّلْتُمْ وَ كُنْتُمُ اَلْوَرَثَةَ كَانَ جَائِزاً لَكُمْ إِنْ شَاءَ اَللَّهُ".
It is narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Isa from Ahmad ibn Ishaq that he wrote to Abu Al-Hasan عليه السلام, informing him: "Durrah bint Muqatil has passed away and left behind an estate consisting of portions in a certain place. She bequeathed more than one-third of her estate to our master, and we are her executors. We wished to inform our master about this matter. If you command us to carry out the will as it is, we will do so. But if you command otherwise, we will adhere to your instruction in all that you command us, God willing." So Abu Al-Hasan عليه السلام replied in his own handwriting: "She is entitled to only one-third of her estate. However, if you, as the heirs, choose to be generous, it is permissible for you, God willing."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh, p. 338