The Matters for which one can Make a Will and what is Preferable in the Issue

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that al-Bara’ ibn Ma’rur al-Ansariy lived in al-Madinah. The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, lived in…

“Durrah, daughter of Muqatil has died. She has left assets and pieces of land in several places. She had made a will for her master of the pieces of land, which was more than one-third of her legacy. We are the executors…

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who dies and about what is for him from his legacy. He (the Imam) said, ‘One third of his legacy is for him and this applies to a woman also.’”

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), in this statement refers to the words of ’Amir al-Mu’minin. He (the Imam) said, ‘If I make a will about one-fifth of my legacy it is better than making a will about one- fourth of my legacy, and if I…

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If one makes a will about one-third of his legacy he has harmed the heirs. Making a will about one-fifth or one-fourth of the legacy is better than making a will about one-third. If…

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If one makes a will about one-third has not left any legacy.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin has said, ‘If one makes a will about one-third of his legacy, then is killed by mistake, one-third of the wergild for him becomes part of that which he has…