2 – the elevation of ranks that accrues, by seeking Allah’s reward, in proportion to the recompense granted.

As for the report of Saʿd ibn Abī Waqqāṣ (may Allah be pleased with him), the incident is that he fell ill in Mecca. He was one of the Emigrants, and they used to dislike that a man should die in the very land from which he had emigrated, for he had left it for Allah’s sake and did not wish to die there. It was the Prophet’s ﷺ practice—reflecting his fine care and noble character—to visit his sick Companions, so he came to see him. Saʿd said, “O Messenger of Allah, I am in great pain, and I possess wealth, yet no one of my offspring will inherit from me except a single daughter. Shall I give two-thirds of my property in charity?” He replied, “No.” He asked, “Half?” He said, “No.” He asked, “One third?” He said, “One third—and one third is much. For you to leave your heirs wealthy is better than to leave them poor, holding out their hands to people.”

Most people, both today and in the past, set aside one third in their bequests, even though the Prophet ﷺ said, “A third is much.” This shows that a person is not obliged to bequeath a full third, yet people have adopted it as a custom and now routinely do so. For this reason the scholar of this community—for whom the Prophet ﷺ prayed that Allah would grant him understanding in—