for a person never knows how long he will remain in this life, nor when his stay will come to an end. Moreover, writing one’s bequest is itself obedience to the Messenger ﷺ.

Thus, after Ibn ʿUmar—may Allah be pleased with him—heard this prophetic counsel, he would review his will every single night: complying with the Lawgiver’s command, testifying to the truth, and preparing himself for the journey to the Abode of Permanence.

Lessons derived from the ḥadīth
1- The legitimacy of bequests; all scholars concur on this, and their consensus rests on the Qur’an and the Sunnah.
2- Bequests fall into two categories:
a) recommended, and b) obligatory.
The recommended concerns voluntary acts of devotion and charitable offerings.
The obligatory relates to dues that must be paid but for which no proof would exist after one’s death; for “whatever is indispensable for fulfilling an obligation becomes obligatory.” Ibn Daqīq al-ʿĪd stated that this ḥadīth addresses the obligatory type.
3- One should hasten to set down a bequest clearly—in obedience to the Lawgiver, in readiness for death, and after careful reflection on the bequest itself and on how it will be spent—before some distraction intervenes.
4- A standard written document is sufficient to establish and execute a will, for the ḥadīth mentions no need for witnesses. Recognized handwriting constitutes strong, decisive proof.
5- The excellence of Ibn ʿUmar: his eagerness to do good and his faithful following of the wise Lawgiver.
6- Ibn Daqīq al-ʿĪd observed that allowing a delay of one or two nights is a concession intended to remove hardship and difficulty.

Hadith 2
Saʿd ibn Abī Waqqāṣ—may Allah be pleased with him—reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to visit me during the Year of the Farewell Pilgrimage while I was suffering from a severe illness. I said, “O Messenger of Allah, my pain has become as you see, and I am a man of wealth. I have no heir except one daughter. May I give two-thirds of my wealth in charity?” He replied, “No.” I asked, “Half, O Messenger of Allah?” He said, “No.” I said, “Then a third?” He said, “A third—and a third is much. To leave your heirs rich is better than to leave them dependent, begging from people. You will never spend anything, seeking thereby the Countenance of Allah, without being rewarded for it—even what you place in your wife’s mouth.”

I said, “O Messenger of Allah, will I be left behind after my companions?” He said, “If you are left behind and perform a deed seeking thereby the Countenance of Allah, you will only rise thereby in rank and degree. Perhaps you will indeed be left behind so that some people may benefit…"