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448—Anyone who does not possess enough wealth to leave his heirs financially secure should make no bequest; rather, he should leave his entire estate to his heirs1. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “It is better for you to leave your heirs wealthy than to leave them destitute, begging from people.” Agreed upon2. What is best should be pursued in every circumstance.
(1) The shaykh said: “If a person possesses substantial wealth and his heirs are well-off, it is recommended that he bequeath one-fifth of his estate to charitable causes, thereby withholding that portion from his heirs, so that his reward may be complete and disputes among the heirs concerning bequests may be forestalled. If his intention is to benefit his children, he should make no bequest; rather, he should leave his wealth to be divided among them according to the shares prescribed in the Book of Allah. No consideration should be given to the widespread custom of restricting a bequest to one’s children and thereafter exclusively to one’s sons’ children. This is contrary to both the Sharia and reason. Such a person harms himself and them by fostering hatred and hostility among them and causing them to rely upon the bequest and become indolent.” *Nūr al-Basāir*, p. 42.
(2) Reported by al-Bukhārī, 5/363, and Muslim, no. 1628.
٤٤٨- وَيَنْبَغِي لِمَنْ لَيْسَ عِنْدَهُ شَيْءٌ يَحْصُلُ فِيهِ إِغْنَاءُ وَرَثَتِهِ أَنْ لَا يُوصِيَ، بَلْ يَدَعَ التَّرِكَةَ كلَّها لورثته١؛ كما قال النبي ﷺ: "إنك إن تذر ورثتك أغنياء خير من أن تذرهم عالة يتكففون الناس" مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْهِ٢. وَالْخَيْرُ مَطْلُوبٌ فِي جَمِيعِ اَلْأَحْوَالِ.
١ قال الشيخ: ومن كان عنده مال كثير، وورثته أغنياء، سُنَّ له أن يوصي بخمس ماله في أعمال البر التي يخرجها عن ورثته، ليتم الأجر والثواب، وينحسم الشر والنزاع بين الورثة المتعلقين بالوصايا، وإذا كان قصده بر أولاده فلا يوصي بشيء، بل يجعل ماله ميراثًا بينهم على مواريثهم من كتاب الله، ولا عبرة بما اعتاده جمهور الناس من حصر الوصية على الأولاد ثم على أولاد البنين فقط، فإن هذا خلاف الشرع، وخلاف العقل، وقد أضر بنفسه وبهم إذ تسبب لإحداث البغضاء والعداوة بينهم، والاتكال عليها والكسل. "نور البصائر، ص: ٤٢".
٢ أخرجه البخاري "٣٦٣/٥"، ومسلم "١٦٢٨".