Al-Sharḥ al-Mumtiʿ - Ibn al-'Uthaymin - (11/138)

Al-Sharḥ al-MumtiʿIbn al-'Uthaymin

destitute.” (1) If a person of limited means makes a bequest, he may leave his heirs dependent upon other people.

His statement, “that he make a bequest of one-fifth”: The evidence for specifying one-fifth is what is reported from Abu Bakr—may Allah be pleased with him—that he said, “I make a bequest of what Allah approved for Himself,” (2) namely, one-fifth. This is not obligatory, however; rather, it was Abu Bakr’s own choice, and it falls within the scope of the Prophet’s saying, “One-third—and one-third is much.”

The author did not explain to whom a bequest should be given. The answer is that it should be directed to charitable causes, the foremost of which are relatives who do not inherit. This is because Allah prescribed the bequest for them. Thus, if we hold that the verse has not been abrogated, a bequest for non-inheriting relatives is obligatory; but if we hold that it has been abrogated, it is recommended. It may therefore be given to relatives who are not heirs, whether they are wealthy or poor. If it is made to a public cause, it carries greater reward and has broader benefit.

“A bequest of more than one-third is not valid for a non-heir, nor is any bequest valid for an heir, unless the heirs approve it after death; in that case, it is valid by way of execution, ………”

His statement, “is not valid,” means: the bequest.

His statement, “of more than one-third”: The evidence for this is the Prophet’s statement to Sa‘d ibn Abi Waqqas—may Allah be pleased with him—when Sa‘d consulted him regarding how much he should bequeath. Sa‘d said to the Prophet, while suffering from an illness which he thought was his final illness, “May I give two-thirds of my wealth in charity?” He said, “No.” Sa‘d said, “Then half?” He said, “No”—and the word “no” in response to a request for a legal ruling indicates prohibition. Sa‘d then said, “Then one-third?” He replied, “One-third—and one-third is much. To leave your heirs wealthy is better than to leave them destitute, begging from people.”

His statement, “for a non-heir”: What is meant here by a non-heir is one who does not inherit, as indicated by:

(1) Its source has been cited previously, p. 118. (2) Its source has been cited previously, p. 131.

عالة» (١)، وصاحب المال القليل إذا أوصى فإنه ربما يجعل ورثته عالة على الناس. قوله: «أن يوصي بالخُمس»، الدليل على تعيُّن الخُمس هو ما ورد عن أبي بكر ﵁ أنه قال: «أوصي بما رضيه الله لنفسه» (٢) وهو الخمس، ولكن ليس بلازم، إنما اختاره أبو بكر ﵁ وهو داخل في قول الرسول ﷺ: «الثلث والثلث كثير». والمؤلف لم يبيِّن لمن تُصرف الوصية، والجواب: أنها تصرف في أعمال الخير، وأولاها القرابة الذين لا يرثون؛ لأن الله فرض الوصية لهم، فإذا قلنا: إن الآية لم تنسخ صارت الوصية للقرابة الذين لا يرثون واجبة، وإذا قلنا: إنها منسوخة صارت مستحبة، فتصرف إلى الأقارب غير الورثة سواء كانوا أغنياء أو فقراء، وإذا أوصى إلى جهة عامة صار أكثر أجراً وأعم نفعاً. وَلَا تَجُوزُ بِأَكْثَرَ مِن الثُّلُثِ لأَِجْنَبِيٍّ وَلَا لِوَارِثٍ بِشَيْءٍ إِلاَّ بِإِجَازَةِ الوَرَثَةِ لَهَا بَعْدَ المَوْتِ، فَتَصِحُّ تَنْفِيذاً، .......... قوله: «ولا تجوز»، أي: الوصية. قوله: «بأكثر من الثلث»، ودليل ذلك قول النبي ﷺ لسعد بن أبي وقاص ﵁ وقد نازله فيما يوصي به، فقال للنبي وهو في مرض ظن أنه مرض الموت: أتصدق بثلثي مالي؟ قال: «لا»، قال: فالنصف؟ قال: «لا» ـ وكلمة: «لا» في مقام الاستفتاء تعني التحريم ـ فقال: فالثلث؟ قال: «الثلث والثلث كثير، إنك أن تذر ورثتك أغنياء خير من أن تذرهم عالة يتكففون الناس». قوله: «لأجنبي»، المراد بالأجنبي هنا من لا يرث بدليل:

(١) سبق تخريجه ص (١١٨). (٢) سبق تخريجه ص (١٣١).