Charities of the Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, Fatimah and ‘A’immah, ‘Alayhim al-Salam

"They were only endowed, so Rasulullah would take from them what he spent on his guests, and Fatima was obliged to maintain them. When he (the Prophet) passed away, al-'Abbas came to dispute Fatima about it. Ali and others testified that they were endowed to Fatima. These (i.e. the Gardens) were: Ad-Dallal, Al-Awaf, Al-Hasna, As-Safiyyah, what was left of Umm Ibrahim's, Al-Maythab, and Al-Burqah.

“We once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the charities of the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, and the charities of Fatimah, ‘Alayha al-Salam. He (the Imam) said, ‘Their charities are for banu Hashim and banu al-Muttalib.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has propounded the following. ‘Al-Maythab is that garden upon which Salman contracted for his freedom; then Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, granted it to His messenger, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, as properties captured from the enemies; and it is in her charity.’” (The Messenger of Allah planted the garden. O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, Amir al-Mu’minin, and Salam for the Jewish slave master which miraculously grew immediately as payment for the freedom of Salman)

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the charities of the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, and the charities of Ali (a.s.). He (the Imam) said, ‘It is lawful for us.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Fatimah, ‘Alayha al-Salam, left her charities for banu Hashim and banu al-Muttalib.’”

“Once abu Ja’far (a.s.), decided to inform us about an important fact. He (the Imam) said, ‘Do you like if I read the will of Fatimah, ‘Alayha al-Salam, for you?’ I replied, ‘Yes, I like to hear.’ He (the Imam) then took out a box or a basket from which he took out a book (a letter) and read, ‘In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. This is the will of Fatimah, daughter of Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause. She; bequests all of her seven walls (gardens enclosed by walls), al-‘Awaf, al- Dalal, al-Burqah, al-Maythab, al-Husna’, al-Safiyah and Ma li ’Umm Ibrahim to Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.). When Ali passes away it then is for al-Hassan, when al-Hassan passes away then it is for al-Husayn and when al-Husayn passes away then it is for the eldest of my children. Allah is witness thereof, al-Miqdad ibn Aswad, al-Zubayr ibn al-‘Awam and Ali ibn abu Talib are the scribes. From the narrator of the previous Hadith from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from ‘ Asem ibn Humayd a similar Hadith is narrated in which he has not mentioned box or basket and has said ... To the eldest of my children other than [not] your children.’

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), once said, ‘Do you like if I read the will of Fatimah, ‘Alayha al- Salam ?’ I replied, ‘Yes, I like it.’ He (the Imam) took out a document. It said, “This is what Fatimah, daughter of Muhammad (SAW), has willed about her assets to Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.). If he dies then it is for al-Hassan, if he dies then it is for al-Husayn and if al-Husayn dies then it is for the eldest of my children not your children. These walls (gardens enclosed by walls), are al-‘Awaf, al-Dalal, al- Burqah, al-Maythab, al-Husna’, al-Safiyah and Ma li ’Umm Ibrahim. Allah is witness thereof, al- Miqdad ibn Aswad and al-Zubayr ibn al-‘Awam.’”

“Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), sent to me the will of ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), which reads as follows: ‘(I begin) in the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. ‘This is the will and decision of the servant of Allah about his assets seeking thereby the pleasure of Allah so that He will admit him in the garden (paradise), keep away from him the fire and keep him away from the fire on the day when certain faces will be white and others will be black. The assets that belong to me in Yanba’ which are known to be my assets with its surroundings are endowed as charities as well as the slaves except Rabah, abu Nayzar and Jubayr who are set free and no one has any authority over them. They are my Mawali who will work for five years with the properties from which will be their sustenance, expenses and the expenses of their families. Besides these my properties in Wadi al-Qura’, all of it is of the assets of the children of Fatimah, ‘Alayha al-Salam, and the slaves are charities. My assets in Daymah and its people are charities except Zurayq. For him is what I write for his companions. My assets in ’Udhaynah and its people are charities and al-Fuqayrayn as you know are charities in the way of Allah. My assets that I have mentioned are charities in an obligatory sense, whether I will be living or dead. They will be used in the ways that will please Allah, for the cause of Allah, and for the sake of Allah, and for my relatives from banu Hashim, banu al- Muttalib, the nearer ones and the farther ones. Al-Hassan will supervise these properties. He will use them for his lawful needs and will spend in the sight of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, in lawful ways. It is not unlawful for him to do so. If he deems necessary to sell from these assets to pay off debts, he can do so if he will so like. It is not unlawful for him. If he will like he can make them very attractive assets. The children of Ali, their Mawali and assets are under the authority of al-Hassan ibn Ali. If the house of al-Hassan ibn Ali will not be the house of charity and if he will so decide to sell it he can do so. It is not unlawful for him. If he will sell it, he will divide its price in three parts: one- third in the way of Allah, one-third for banu Hashim and banu al-Muttalib, and keep one-third in the assets of Ale abu Talib. He will manage it in the sight of Allah as he deems it lawful. If something will happen to al-Hassan and al-Husayn will be living, then al-Husayn ibn Ali will be the person in charge of his task. Al-Husayn will deal with these assets just as al-Hassan had been dealing. He will have for himself what I have written for al-Hassan. On him will also be what was on al-Hassan. For the children of (the two sons of) Fatimah, ‘Alayha al-Salam, of the charities are whatever is for the children of Ali. I have prepared what I have prepared for the two sons of Fatimah (a.s.). It is for the sake of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, in the honor of the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, and for their greatness, in service of their nobility and pleasure. If something will happen to al-Hassan and al-Husayn, the last one of them will look among the children of Ali. If he will find among them one about whose guidance he is happy as well as his Islam and trustworthiness, he will designate him for the task if he will so wish. If he will not find among them anyone who can make him happy, he will designate someone from Ale abu Talib with whom he will be happy. If he will find all of Ale abu Talib, their elders and people of understanding have passed away, he then will designate a man from banu Hashim. He will place a condition on one to whom he will leave the assets that they must be left on their original basis, only their fruits will be spent as I have commanded, such as, in the way of Allah and for His sake, for the relatives of banu Hashim and banu al-Muttalib, those nearer and those farther. They must not be sold, gifted or inherited. The assets of Muhammad ibn Ali are on his side. It is for the two sons of Fatimah, ‘Alayha al-Salam, to decide about it. My slaves whom I have listed in a small document are free. ‘This is what Ali ibn abu Talib has decided about his assets this morning of the day that he has arrived in Maskin (a place near al-Kufah on the bank of Euphrates) for the sake of Allah, seeking His pleasure, and for the dwelling in the next life. Allah is the support in all conditions. It is not lawful for a Muslim, who believes in Allah and the day to come, to say something about what I have decided about my assets or oppose me in my affairs of the people near or far. ‘Thereafter the mothers of my children with whom I maintain connections, seventeen of whom are mothers of children who are with their children, those of them who are pregnant and those who do not have children. My decision about them, if something happens to me is as follows: Those of them who do not have children and are not pregnant they are free for the sake of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious. No one will have any authority over them. Those of them who have children or are pregnant must keep their children as their share. If her child will die and she is living she then is free and no one will have any authority on them. This is the decision that Ali has made about his assets this morning when he has arrived in Maskin. It is witnessed by abu Samar ibn Abrahah, Sa‘sa‘h ibn Suhan, Yazid ibn Qays and Hayyaj ibn abu Hayyaj and it is written by Ali ibn abu Talib with his own hand on tenth of Jamadi al-’Ula’, in the year thirty-seven.’” There was another will (with the first one): “In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful “This is the will of Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.). I (Ali ibn abu Talib) testify that no one deserves worship except Allah alone, who has no partners, and Muhammad is His servant and Messenger. He sent him with guidance, true religion to make it dominant over all other religions even though the pagans dislike. O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause. My Salat (prayer), good deeds, life and death are for Allah, Lord of the worlds who has no partners. I am commanded for this and I am the first Muslim. “I make this will for you O al-Hassan and all members of my family, my children and those to whom my writing reaches, to be pious before Allah, your Lord, and do not die unless you are a Muslim. Hold firmly to the rope of Allah, all of you, and do not become scattered because of differences. I heard the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, saying, ’Establishing reconciliation and peace between two disputing people is better than all Salat (prayer) and fasting. That denouncing (each other) is destructive to religion and the good relationship between two people. There is no power without Allah, most High, most Great. You must look after your relatives and maintain good relations with them; Allah will make your accounting very easy.’ “(I remind you of) Allah, (I remind you of) Allah, about the orphans. You must not remain ignorant of the condition of what they eat and you must not allow yourselves to see that they are lost and destroyed in your presence. I heard the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, saying, ‘If one supports an orphan until he is independent Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, makes the garden (paradises) obligatory for him just as He makes the fire obligatory for those who consume the assets of the orphans.’ “(I remind you of) Allah, (I remind you of) Allah, about al-Quran, you must not give others the chance to excel you in acting according to it. (I remind you of) Allah, (I remind you of) Allah, about your neighbors; the Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has urged to take care of them and he (the Messenger of Allah) continued urging about them until we thought that he will command to inherit each other. (I remind you of) Allah, (I remind you of) Allah, about the house of your Lord. You must not leave it without your presence as long as you are here. If it is left alone, you will not be given a chance to visit the house. The least that one, who intends to visit the house, brings back is forgiveness of the past sins. (I remind you of) Allah, (I remind you of) Allah, about Salat (prayer); it is the best of deeds. It is the pillar of your religion. (I remind you of) Allah, (I remind you of) Allah, of Zakat because it extinguishes the anger of your Lord. (I remind you of) Allah, (I remind you of) Allah, about the month of Ramdan. Fasting in this month is the shield against the fire. (I remind you of) Allah, (I remind you of) Allah, about the poor and the destitute. You must share your financial resources with them. (I remind you of) Allah, (I remind you of) Allah, about Jihad by means of your wealth, your souls and your tongue. Two kinds of men complete the duty of Jihad, the Imam of guidance or one obedient to him who follows his guidance. (I remind you of) Allah, (I remind you of) Allah, about the descendents of your prophet. You must not allow their being subjected to injustice in your presence and before your eyes when you are able to defend them. (I remind you of) Allah, (I remind you of) Allah, about the companions of your Prophet, the companions who did not invent heresy or give protection to heretics. The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has urged to be good to them, has condemned the heretics among them and others who protect heretics. “(I remind you of) Allah, (I remind you of) Allah, about women and slaves. The last word your Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, spoke was, T urge you to take care of the two weak kinds of people: the women and slaves.’ Salat (prayer), Salat (prayer), Salat (prayer). Do not fear the blame of blaming people; Allah is sufficient for you against their harming you and their rebelliousness against you. Speak to people about what is good as Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has commanded you. If you disregard urging people to do what is good and prohibit evil; Allah will make people of evil deeds to dominate you then you pray but it will not be answered in your favor. My sons, you must continue to maintain good relations, generosity and acting virtuously. You must not cut off good relations and turn away from each other because of differences. Cooperate with each other with virtuous deeds and piety and do not work together toward sin and animosity. Be pious before Allah because Allah’s punishment is intense and severe. I pray to Allah to protect you against harms, all of you, people of the house as He protected among you your Prophet. I leave you in the trust of Allah and offer you the greeting of peace, the kindness of Allah and His blessings.” “He (the Imam) then continued saying Tahlil, (no one deserves worship except Allah), until he passed away. O Allah, grant compensation to him (the Imam) and blessings, in the third night of the last ten days in the end of the twenty-third night of the month of Ramadan, on Friday night in the year forty after the migration of the Holy Prophet, from Makkah to al-Madinah. He was injured in the nineteenth night of the month of Ramadan.’”

“Abu al-Hassan, Musa (a.s.), sent to him the will of his father with his charity through abu Tsma‘il Musadif. “In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful “This is the will of JaTar ibn Muhammad who testifies that no one deserves worship except Allah alone, who has no partners. To Him belongs the kingdom, to Him belongs all praise; He is living and does not die. In His hand is the good and He has power over all things, that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger, that the Hour is coming without any doubt and that Allah will raise all people from the graves. Upon this (belief) we live and upon this we die and before Him we all will be raised to live by the will of Allah. He has made this will to his sons that they must not die unless they are Muslims, they must remain pious before Allah, establish peaceful relations among themselves as much as they can; they will continue living in good conditions as long as they do so. It is an obligation for which they will be recompensed. “He has made this will that if something happens to him if it is not changed, although he has the right to change as long as Allah keeps him living, that for so and so is such and such and for so and so and so and so is such and such that so and so is free. That he has made his will to so and so.” “In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful “This is what Musa ibn Ja‘far has verified and certified to be in so and so land, with so and so limits (boundaries). All of its palm trees, its land, its waters, surroundings, its rights, watering paths, its threshing field, its hills, its courtyards, branches, dividing marks, drainage passages, the inhibited and uninhibited parts are all given as charity. Along with all of its rights for his own children of his own seed, male and female, which will be divided among them whatever Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, will produce as its income after deducting the expenses of its maintenance, buildings, accessories. Thereafter thirty clusters must be kept to be divided among the destitute of the people of the town, who live with the children of Musa, for every male twice as much as the share of a female. If a female of the children of Musa marries, she will not have any right in this charity unless she comes back without her husband. If she did so, she will have the same share that she had before her marriage as being one of the daughters of Musa. Whoever of the children of Musa dies and leaves children, they will have the share of their father, each male will receive twice as much as the share of a female as Musa ibn JaTar has set as a condition in his children from his seeds. If any of the children of Musa dies and does not leave any children behind, his share will be given to the people of charity. The children of my daughters will not have any share in this much of my charity unless their father is of my children. No one else will have any share in my charity with my children or the children of my children and their descendents as long as anyone of them exists. If they are no more, then my charity will be for the children of my father from my mother as long as they exist, with the condition that I have set for my children and my descendents. If the children of my father from my mother all die, then my charity is for the children of my father and their descendents as long as any of them exist, with the condition that I have set upon my children and my descendents. When the children of my father are no more, then my charity is for the first and then the first in priority until Allah makes it inherit whom He will make to inherit; He is the best heir. “Musa has given this charity when he is in good health, an irrevocable charity in a complete sense without doubt or return, perpetually for the sake of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, and the dwelling in the hereafter. It is not lawful for any believing one who believes in Allah and the last day to sell it or any part thereof, give it as gift, or grant, change anything thereof as I have set forth until Allah will inherit the earth and all that is on it. “He has made this charity under the supervision of Ali and Ibrahim. When one of them is no more, al- Qasim joins the other. If then one of them is no more Tsma‘il will join the other one. If one of them is no more al- ‘Abbas will join the other one, if one of them is no more, then the eldest of my children will join the other, if no one of my children will exist except one then he will deal with the task.” Abu al-Hassan has thought that his father made Tsma‘il before al- ‘Abbas in the matters of charity who was younger than him.

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, distributed the assets captured from the enemy among the Muslims. The share of Ali (a.s.), was a piece of land. He dug a well and water gushed toward the sky like the neck of a camel. He called it Yanbu‘a. A bearer of good news came to him with good news and Ali (a.s.), said, “You must give the good news to the heirs. It is an irrevocable charity and complete for those who perform al-Hajj of the house of Allah and the by-passers. It will not be sold, gifted or inherited. Those who buy or gift it, will be subjected to the condemnation of Allah, the angels and all people; and Allah will not divert it from him or accept ransom.’””

“I was with abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), when he was about to leave this world. He fainted and then regained consciousness. He (the Imam) said, ‘You must give to al-Hassan ibn Ali ibn al-Husayn, who is al-Aftas, seventy dinar, give so and so such and such amount, and to so and so such and such amount.’ I then asked, ‘Do you want to give to the one who attacked you with the blade?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Woe on you, have you not read the Quran?’ I replied, ‘Yes, I read it.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Have you not heard the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, “. . . those who keep the relation that Allah has commanded to maintain and fear their Lord and fear the bad accounting.” (13:21)’” (Fainting and then regaining consciousness in the case of an Imam is a debatable issue.) Ibn Mahbub has said in his Hadith, ‘. . . attacked you with the blade to kill you.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Do you want me not to be of those about whom Allah, most Blessed, most High, has said, “. . . those who maintain the good relations that Allah has commanded them to maintain, fear their Lord and fear the bad accounting?” Yes, O Salimah, Allah has created the garden (paradises) and has made it good as well as its fragrance which can be sensed from a distance of two thousand years and those who suspend and cut off relations with relatives cannot sense it.’”

“I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about what people say concerning the will about one- third or one-fourth at the time of one’s death: if it is lawful and a good thing to do and how his father had done. He (the Imam) said, ‘The one-third is what my father, may Allah grant him kindness, had made the subject of his will.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), died and left sixty slaves, of whom he set free one-third. I drew lots among them and selected twenty, and I freed them.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that abu Ja‘far, at the time of his passing away freed the mischievous ones among his slaves and kept the good ones. I asked, ‘Father, do you free these and keep these?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘These were subjected to my disciplining, thus, this is for that.’”

“Ali ibn al-Husayn, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, became ill three times, each time he made a will and when he recovered from his illness he approved his will.’”