Library Ethics Greater Sins Chapter 42 Persistence in Minor Sins The poor heir must be kept in mindThe poor heir must be kept in mind
The poor heir must be kept in mindThe poor heir must be kept in mind
- Details
- Hits: 1965
The poor heir must be kept in mind
If the heir is self-sufficient the maker of the will can bequeath one third of his property in the way he desires and he can also exceed this limit if the heir permits. If the heirs are poor or extremely pious the will-maker can give them some share even from this one third part to ensure that he is not giving more than the share of heirs which shall be derived from the two-third portion.
If the heir is poor it is better not to make a will (for the 1/3 part), or to bequeath only 1/6, 1/5 or 1/4 of ones property, because one of the best utilization of this wealth is in fulfilling the needs of a poor heir. This would constitute an act of Silet ar-Rahm, especially when the heir is yet to reach puberty.
Hazrat Imam ‘Ali (a.s.) says,
“I prefer a bequest for one-fifth over that of one-fourth and the bequest of one-fourth over that of one-third. And one who makes a bequest for (full) one-third is as if he has not left behind anything.” That is, he has fully exercised his right to bequeath one-third and in this way deprived the poor heirs who might have benefited if it had been to the contrary.
(Beharul Anwar Vol. 23 page 46)
Imam RiÄa (a.s.) said,
“It is Mustahab to bequeath some share to those relatives who are not ones heirs and if one does not make such a will his action will end in Allah’s disobedience”
(BihÄr al-AnwÄr Vol. 103 page 199)
Such a person is regarded as sinful because he has not taken care of the rights of relatives, which is one of the obligatory religious duties. Particularly, if a rich man disregards his very poor relatives who are not his heirs and does not bequeath them anything, it amounts to Qat al-Raham, which is HarÄm and a greater sin.
