The Will about a Share of One’s Legacy

“We once asked abu al-Hassan, al-Rida’ (a.s.), about the case of a man who has made a will about a share of his legacy and it is not known how much a share is. He (the Imam) asked, ‘Have you not received anything about it from Ja‘far, or abu Ja‘far, ‘Alayhim al-Salam?’ We replied, ‘We pray to Allah to keep our souls in service for your cause, we have not heard our people mention anything about it from your ancestors.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘A share is one of eight.’ We said, ‘We pray to Allah to keep our souls in service for your cause, how it has become one of eight?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Have you not read the book of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious?’ I said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, I read but do not know in which passage it is.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is in the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, “Charity is only for the poor, destitute, Zakat collectors, people inclined to the religion, slaves, debtors, in the way of Allah and for those who deplete their supplies on a journey.” (9:60)’ He (the Imam) then formed eight with his hand and said, ‘This is how the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, distributed in eight shares, thus, a share is one out of eight.’”