The Book of Wills
30/3. Chapter:
Bequeathing One-Third
Sunan an-Nasai
أَخْبَرَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ، وَأَحْمَدُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لأَحْمَدَ - قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو نُعَيْمٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ عَامِرِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ، عَنْ سَعْدٍ، قَالَ جَاءَنِي النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَعُودُنِي وَأَنَا بِمَكَّةَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أُوصِي بِمَالِي كُلِّهِ قَالَ " لاَ ". قُلْتُ فَالشَّطْرَ قَالَ " لاَ ". قُلْتُ فَالثُّلُثَ قَالَ " الثُّلُثَ وَالثُّلُثُ كَثِيرٌ إِنَّكَ أَنْ تَدَعَ وَرَثَتَكَ أَغْنِيَاءَ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَنْ تَدَعَهُمْ عَالَةً يَتَكَفَّفُونَ النَّاسَ يَتَكَفَّفُونَ فِي أَيْدِيهِمْ ".
It was narrated that Sa'd said: "The Prophet came to visit me when I was in Makkah. I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, shall I bequeath all my money?' He said: 'No.' I said: 'One-half?' He said: 'No.' I said: 'One-third?' He said: '(Bequeath) one-third, and one-third is a lot. If you leave your heirs independent of means, that is better than if you leave them poor and holding out their hands to people.'"
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3627In-book reference : Book 30, Hadith 17English translation : Vol. 4, Book 30, Hadith 3657