Another Chapter

“I once asked al-Rida’ (a.s.), about the case of a man who has made a will for a man about a sword which is in a cover (sword sheathing) with decorations on it. The heirs said that only the sword is for him and not the asset (the valuable decorations). He (the Imam) said, ‘The sword and that in which it is belongs to him.’ I then asked about the case of a man who makes a will about a box for a man. The heirs say that only the box without its contents belongs to him. ‘Not only the box but its contents also belong to him’, said abu al-Hassan (a.s.) .”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who has said that this ship belongs to so and so but has not identified its contents. There is food in it; if the ship with its content must be given to him. He (the Imam) said, ‘It belongs to him except; if its owner is accused (of wrong-doing) and the heirs do not have anything.’”

“I once wrote to abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about the case of a man who has made a will about a sword for a man and the heirs say that only the iron belongs to him but not the decoration. He (the Imam) wrote the answer that said, ‘The sword and decoration belong to him.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who makes a will about a box with assets in it for a man. The heirs say that only the box belongs to him and not its contents. He (the Imam) said, ‘The box and its contents belong to him.”’