The Will for a Part of One’s Assets

“A woman made a will to me that said, ‘With one-third of my legacy my debts must be paid and part of it will be for so and so female.’ I then asked ibn abu Layla’ about it and he said, ‘There is nothing for her because I do not know how much is al-Juz’ (a part).’ I then asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about it afterwards and informed him (the Imam) how she had said it and what ibn abu Layla’ had said. He (the Imam) said, ‘Ibn abu Layla’ has spoken falsely. She can have one-tenth of the one- third because Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, said to Ibrahim ‘Alayhi al-Salam, “Place Juza’ (a part) of it on every mountain” (2:260) the mountains at that time were ten, thus al-Juz’ is one-tenth of something.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who made a will about a part of his legacy. He (the Imam) said, ‘Apart is one-tenth because Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has said, ‘Place a part on every mountain’ the mountains were ten.’”

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘A part is one-tenth because the mountains were ten and the birds were four.’”