Here are some of narrations Muslims use to show that Prophet Mohammed (PBUH & His Family) did not leave behind a Will.
Narrated by Abu Huraira that Allah's Apostle said: "My heirs will not inherit a Dinar or a Dirham (i.e. money), for whatever I leave (excluding the adequate support of my wives and the wages of my employees) is given in charity." (Sahih Bukhari Volume 4, Bk. 51: Wills and Testaments (Wasaayaa) Hadith 37)
Narrated by Talha bin Musarrif: “I asked Abdullah bin Abu Aufa, Did the Prophet make a will? He replied, "No," I asked him, "How is it then that the making of a will has been enjoined on people, (or that they are ordered to make a will)?" He replied, "The Prophet bequeathed Allah's Book (i.e. Qur'an). (Sahih Bukhari Volume 4, Bk. 51: Wills and Testaments (Wasaayaa) Hadith 3)
Narrated by Ibn Abbas Regarding the Verse {To everyone we have appointed heirs.} (An-Nisa Chapter 4, Verse 33) “Mawali means heirs. And regarding. And those to whom your right hands have pledged." When the Emigrants came to Medina, an Emigrant used to be the heir of an Ansari with the exclusion of the latter's relatives, and that was because of the bond of brotherhood which the Prophet had established between them (i.e. the Emigrants and the Ansar). So when the Verses: {To everyone we have appointed heirs.} (An-Nisa Chapter 4, Verse 33) was revealed, (the inheritance through bond of brotherhood) was cancelled. Ibn `Abbas then said, And those to whom your right hands have pledged, is concerned with the covenant of helping and advising each other. So allies are no longer to be the heir of each other, but they can bequeath each other some of their property by means of a will.” (Sahih Bukhari Volume 6, Bk. 60: Prophetic Commentary on the Qur'an (Tafseer of the Prophet (pbuh)), Hadith 104)
Now, let us look at the many narrations to prove that the Prophet did leave behind a Will.
A) Obligation in Writing a Will:
First: There is a clear “Muhkam” verse in the Quran which clearly states that writing a Will is an obligation (command)
{It is prescribed that when death approaches any of you—if they leave something of value—a will should be made in favour of parents and immediate family with fairness. [This is] an obligation on those who are mindful [of Allah].} (Al-Baqara verse 180)
{كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذَا حَضَرَ أَحَدَكُمُ الْمَوْتُ إِن تَرَكَ خَيْرًا الْوَصِيَّةُ لِلْوَالِدَيْنِ وَالْأَقْرَبِينَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ ۖ حَقًّا عَلَى الْمُتَّقِينَ} [البقرة: ١٨٠]
Those whom have mistranslated this verse, translate the verse as: {Prescribed for you when death approaches [any] one of you if he leaves wealth [is that he should make] a bequest for the parents and near relatives according to what is acceptable - a duty upon the righteous.}
However in Arabic it says, خَيْرًا الْوَصِيَّةُ.
الْوَصِيَّةُor alwasia means a will and the word خَيْرًا or khayran means ‘goodness’, not physical wealth.
Obviously the non-working scholars twisted the interpretation and translation of this verse, and we will discuss this later. For now, what is important in that verse is that it clearly states that writing a Will is a duty upon the righteous.
For those who say that the verse is referring to inheritance, they must realize that Solomon inherited David, "And Solomon inherited David. He said, "O people, we have been taught the language of birds, and we have been given from all things. Indeed, this is evident bounty."" - Surah Naml Verse 16
Clearly inheritance is not limited to physical inheritance.
And for those whom say that Prophet Mohammed did not know how to read or write, let us disprove this false accusation once and for all.
Narrated Abu Humaid As-Saidi:
We accompanied the Prophet (PBUH & His Family) in the Ghazwa of Tabuk and the king of 'Aila presented a white mule and a cloak as a gift to the Prophet. And the Prophet (PBUH & His Family) wrote to him a peace treaty allowing him to keep authority over his country.
حَدَّثَنَا سَهْلُ بْنُ بَكَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا وُهَيْبٌ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ يَحْيَى، عَنْ عَبَّاسٍ السَّاعِدِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي حُمَيْدٍ السَّاعِدِيِّ، قَالَ غَزَوْنَا مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم تَبُوكَ، وَأَهْدَى مَلِكُ أَيْلَةَ لِلنَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بَغْلَةً بَيْضَاءَ، وَكَسَاهُ بُرْدًا، وَكَتَبَ لَهُ بِبَحْرِهِمْ.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 3161
https://sunnah.com/bukhari:3161
Anas told that the Prophet wrote to Kisra, Qaisar, the Najashi, and every powerful man, summoning them to God, but it was not the Najashi on whom the Prophet invoked a blessing. It says that the Najashi (Negus) of Abyssinia to whom this letter was sent was not the same as the one who ruled at the time when the early emigration from Mecca to Abyssinia took place. Muslim transmitted it.
وَعَنْ أَنَسٍ: أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَتَبَ إِلَى كِسْرَى وَإِلَى قَيْصَرَ وَإِلَى النَّجَاشِيِّ وَإِلَى كُلِّ جَبَّارٍ يَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَلَيْسَ بِالنَّجَاشِيِّ الَّذِي صَلَّى عَلَيْهِ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ. رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ
Grading: Sahih (Al-Bani)
Reference : Mishkat al-Masabih 3928
https://sunnah.com/mishkat:3928
Narrated Anas bin Malik:
Once the Prophet (PBUH & His Family) wrote a letter or had an idea of writing a letter. The Prophet (PBUH & His Family) was told that they (rulers) would not read letters unless they were sealed. So the Prophet (PBUH & His Family) got a silver ring made with "Muhammad Allah's Messenger (PBUH & His Family)" engraved on it. As if I were just observing its white glitter in the hand of the Prophet.
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مُقَاتِلٍ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، قَالَ كَتَبَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كِتَابًا ـ أَوْ أَرَادَ أَنْ يَكْتُبَ ـ فَقِيلَ لَهُ إِنَّهُمْ لاَ يَقْرَءُونَ كِتَابًا إِلاَّ مَخْتُومًا. فَاتَّخَذَ خَاتَمًا مِنْ فِضَّةٍ نَقْشُهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ. كَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَى بَيَاضِهِ فِي يَدِهِ. فَقُلْتُ لِقَتَادَةَ مَنْ قَالَ نَقْشُهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ قَالَ أَنَسٌ.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 65
Ibn Abbas reported:
When Allah's Messenger (PBUH & His Family) was about to leave this world, there were persons (around him) in his house, 'Umar b. al-Kbattab being one of them. Allah's Apostle (PBUH & His Family) said: Come, I may write for you a document; you would not go astray after that. Thereupon Umar said: Verily Allah's Messenger (PBUH & His Family) is deeply afflicted with pain. You have the Qur'an with you. The Book of Allah is sufficient for us. Those who were present in the house differed. Some of them said: Bring him (the writing material) so that Allah's Messenger (PBUH & His Family) may write a document for you and you would never go astray after him And some among them said what 'Umar had (already) said. When they indulged in nonsense and began to dispute in the presence of Allah's Messenger (PBUH & His Family), he said: Get up (and go away) 'Ubaidullah said: Ibn Abbas used to say: There was a heavy loss, indeed a heavy loss, that, due to their dispute and noise. Allah's Messenger (PBUH & His Family) could not write (or dictate) the document for them.
وَحَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رَافِعٍ، وَعَبْدُ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ، - قَالَ عَبْدٌ أَخْبَرَنَا وَقَالَ ابْنُ رَافِعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، - أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُتْبَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ لَمَّا حُضِرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَفِي الْبَيْتِ رِجَالٌ فِيهِمْ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " هَلُمَّ أَكْتُبْ لَكُمْ كِتَابًا لاَ تَضِلُّونَ بَعْدَهُ " . فَقَالَ عُمَرُ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَدْ غَلَبَ عَلَيْهِ الْوَجَعُ وَعِنْدَكُمُ الْقُرْآنُ حَسْبُنَا كِتَابُ اللَّهِ . فَاخْتَلَفَ أَهْلُ الْبَيْتِ فَاخْتَصَمُوا فَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَقُولُ قَرِّبُوا يَكْتُبْ لَكُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كِتَابًا لَنْ تَضِلُّوا بَعْدَهُ . وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَقُولُ مَا قَالَ عُمَرُ . فَلَمَّا أَكْثَرُوا اللَّغْوَ وَالاِخْتِلاَفَ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " قُومُوا " . قَالَ عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ فَكَانَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ يَقُولُ إِنَّ الرَّزِيَّةَ كُلَّ الرَّزِيَّةِ مَا حَالَ بَيْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَبَيْنَ أَنْ يَكْتُبَ لَهُمْ ذَلِكَ الْكِتَابَ مِنِ اخْتِلاَفِهِمْ وَلَغَطِهِمْ .
Reference: Sahih Muslim 1637c
It has been narrated on the authority of Anas that the Prophet of Allah (PBUH & His Family) wrote to Chosroes (King of Persia), Caesar (Emperor of Rome), Negus (King of Abyssinia) and every (other) despot inviting them to Allah, the Exalted. And this Negus was not the one for whom the Messenger of Allah (PBUH & His Family) had said the funeral prayers.
حَدَّثَنِي يُوسُفُ بْنُ حَمَّادٍ الْمَعْنِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الأَعْلَى، عَنْ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، أَنَّ نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَتَبَ إِلَى كِسْرَى وَإِلَى قَيْصَرَ وَإِلَى النَّجَاشِيِّ وَإِلَى كُلِّ جَبَّارٍ يَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَى اللَّهِ تَعَالَى وَلَيْسَ بِالنَّجَاشِيِّ الَّذِي صَلَّى عَلَيْهِ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم .
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1774a
The scholars themselves even quoted that in their books. In Tafsir Al-Tabari page 124 it says:
(( Regarding the saying of Allah: {Prescribed for you when death approaches [any] one of you if he leaves wealth [is that he should make] a bequest for the parents and near relatives according to what is acceptable - a duty upon the righteous.}
Know that it is a command upon us and was made obligatory, just as He said: {Fasting is prescribed upon you…} (Al-Baqara verse 183). Just as everybody agrees that the one who leaves out fasting while he is capable of it, has abandoned an obligation that he had towards God, so is the one who does not leave a Will to his parents and kinship, he too has abandoned an obligation towards God the Al-Mighty. ))
تفسير الطبري - ص ١٢٤
النص المراد : قَوْلُ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى ذِكْرُهُ: {كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذَا حَضَرَ أَحَدَكُمُ الْمَوْتُ إِنْ تَرَكَ خَيْرًا الْوَصِيَّةُ لِلْوَالِدَيْنِ وَالْأَقْرَبِينَ} [البقرة: ١٨٠] فَأَعْلَمَ أَنَّهُ قَدْ كَتَبَهُ عَلَيْنَا وَفَرَضَهُ، كَمَا قَالَ: {كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ} [البقرة: ١٨٣] وَلَا خِلَافَ بَيْنَ الْجَمِيعِ أَنَّ تَارِكَ الصِّيَامِ وَهُوَ عَلَيْهِ قَادِرٌ مُضَيِّعٍ بِتَرْكِهِ فَرْضًا لِلَّهِ عَلَيْهِ، فَكَذَلِكَ هُوَ بِتَرْكِ الْوَصِيَّةِ لِوَالِدَيْهِ وَأَقْرَبِيهِ وَلَهُ مَا يُوصِي لَهُمْ فِيهِ، مُضَيِّعٌ فَرْضَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ.
https://ia802500.us.archive.org/18/items/WAQ59561/taftabry03.pdf
So if writing a Will is a very clear command from God, does it make sense that the Prophet (PBUH & His Family) would not write one just because Umar objected and told him there is no need to write one?
Second: Allah stated that those whom upon them is the wrath of God, die without writing a Will
{They do not await except one blast, which will seize them while they are disputing. Then they will not be able to make a ˹last˺ will, nor can they return to their own people.} (Quran - Sarah Yassin verses 49-50)
مَا يَنظُرُونَ إِلَّا صَيْحَةً وَاحِدَةً تَأْخُذُهُمْ وَهُمْ يَخِصِّمُونَ فَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ تَوْصِيَةً وَلَا إِلَىٰ أَهْلِهِمْ يَرْجِعُونَ [يس: ٤٩-٥٠]
Scholars have interpreted this verse in their books elaborating that these people whom God’s wrath is upon cannot write a Will, as in Tafsir Al-Jalalayn (Jalal ad-Din Al-Maḥalli and Jalal ad-Din Assiouty) page 443, Tafsir Al-Baghawy page 21. Meaning they will die suddenly and won't be able to write their Will.
تفسير الجلالين - ص ٤٤٣– سطر٢٢ :
النص المراد : فلا يستطيعون توصية : أي يوصوا https://ia600509.us.archive.org/30/items/FP151572/151572.pdf
رابط الغلاف :https://ia800509.us.archive.org/30/items/FP151572/151572p.pdf
تفسير البغوي - ص ٢١ : https://ia800208.us.archive.org/24/items/malimtmalimt8/malimt7.pdf
النص المراد : قوله عز وجل ( فلا يستطيعون توصية ) أي : لا يقدرون على الإيصاء . قال مقاتل : عجلوا عن الوصية فماتوا
So if dying without writing a Will is the Sunnah for the disbelievers, how is it even possible that the Prophet (PBUH & His Family) died the same way?
There are narrations that also prove this. In Majma’a Al-Zawa’ed volume 10, page 8, hadith 7146:
Anas ibn Malik said: “We were with the Messenger of Allah (PBUH & His Family) and a man came to him and said: O Messenger of Allah (PBUH & His Family), so-and-so died. He said: Was he not with us just before? They said: Yes. He said: Glory be to God, as if he was taken with anger. The deprived is the one who wasn’t given the opportunity to make his Will.”
مجمع الزوائد - ص ٨ - حديث رقم ٧١٤٦: https://ia802807.us.archive.org/23/items/FP147887/10_147896.pdf
النص المراد : وعن أنس بن مالك قال: «كنا عند رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - فجاءه رجل، فقال: يا رسول الله مات فلان. قال: " أليس كان معنا آنفا؟ ". قالوا: بلى. قال: " سبحان الله كأنها أخذة على غضب. المحروم من حرم وصيته
This narration is in accordance with the verse, stating that dying without making a final Will is a form of divine wrath. Is this the case with the Prophet? Did he die with God’s wrath upon him?
Third: It is recorded in the Saheehayn (narrations graded as authentic) that the Prophet commanded that a Will must be written.
1- Narrated from Abdullah ibn Umar that Allah's Messenger (PBUH & His Family) said, "It is not permissible for any Muslim who has something to will to stay for two nights without having his last will and testament written and kept ready with him."
This hadith is in both:
Sahih Bukhari, hadith 2738: https://sunnah.com/bukhari:2738
Sahih Muslim, hadith 1627a: https://sunnah.com/muslim:1627a
صحيح البخاري - ص ٦٧٦ - حديث رقم ٢٧٣٨ https://ia600200.us.archive.org/6/items/waq79565/79565.pdf
صحيح مسلم - ص ٧١٣ - حديث رقم ١٦٢٧ https://ia800103.us.archive.org/16/items/FP121852/121852.pdf
النص المراد : عن عبد الله بن عمر: أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: ما حق امرئ مسلم له شيء يوصي فيه، يبيت ليلتين إلا ووصيته مكتوبة عنده
In Sahih Muslim, there is an additional hadith (1627d) where ibn Umar continues and says:
https://sunnah.com/muslim:1627d
Abdullah bin Umar said: “Ever since I heard Allah's Messenger (PBUH & His Family) say this I have not spent a night without having my Will (written) along with me”.
So the question is, was the son of Umar more keen on religion than the Prophet (PBUH & His Family) himself?! If he had his Will written then surely the Prophet (PBUH & His Family) wrote his Will too.
If we follow the non-working scholars and claim that the Prophet did not write a Will, then we are basically saying that the Prophet does not do what he says, and how hateful this is in the eye of God!! O Muslims, who believe that the Prophet is the ‘best of creation’, how can the ‘best of creation’ do what is hateful in the eye of God?!
{O you who have believed, why do you say what you do not do? Greatly hateful in the sight of Allah is that you say what you do not do.} (As-Saf verses 2-3).
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لِمَ تَقُولُونَ مَا لَا تَفْعَلُونَ كَبُرَ مَقْتًا عِندَ اللَّهِ أَن تَقُولُوا مَا لَا تَفْعَلُونَ (الصف ٢-٣)
In another hadith in Sahih Muslim, hadith 1630: https://sunnah.com/muslim:1630
2- Abu Huraira reported that a person said to the Messenger of Allah (PBUH & His Family): “My father died and left behind money without making any Will regarding it. Would he be relieved of the burden of his sins if I give charity (sadaqa) on his behalf? He (the Holy Prophet) said: Yes”.
صحيح مسلم - ص ٧١٦ - حديث رقم ١٦٣٠ : https://ia800103.us.archive.org/16/items/FP121852/121852.pdf
النص المراد : عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَجُلًا قَالَ لِلنَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: إِنَّ أَبِي مَاتَ وَتَرَكَ مَالًا، وَلَمْ يُوصِ، فَهَلْ يُكَفِّرُ عَنْهُ أَنْ أَتَصَدَّقَ عَنْهُ؟ قَالَ: «نَعَمْ»
The hadith is clearly showing that whoever dies without writing a Will has died upon a sin!
All these are proofs that the Prophet must have written a Will.