“I became sick during the year of the Conquest, and was at death's door. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to visit me and I said: 'O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, I have a great deal of wealth and no one will inherit from me apart from my daughter. Can I give two thirds of my wealth in charity?' He said: 'No.' I said: 'Then half?' He said: 'No.' I said: 'One third?' He said: One third and one third is a lot. If you leave your heirs rich that is better than leaving them destitute and begging from people.”  

مَرِضْتُ عَامَ الْفَتْحِ حَتَّى أَشْفَيْتُ عَلَى الْمَوْتِ فَعَادَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقُلْتُ أَىْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ لِي مَالاً كَثِيرًا وَلَيْسَ يَرِثُنِي إِلاَّ ابْنَتِي أَفَأَتَصَدَّقُ بِثُلُثَىْ مَالِي قَالَ لاَ قُلْتُ فَالشَّطْرُ قَالَ لاَ قُلْتُ فَالثُّلُثُ قَالَ الثُّلُثُ وَالثُّلُثُ كَثِيرٌ إِنَّكَ أَنْ تَتْرُكَ وَرَثَتَكَ أَغْنِيَاءَ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَنْ تَتْرُكَهُمْ عَالَةً يَتَكَفَّفُونَ النَّاسَ  

“Allah (SWT) has been charitable with you over the disposal of one third of your wealth at the time of your death, so that you may be able to add to the record of your good deeds.”  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَصَدَّقَ عَلَيْكُمْ عِنْدَ وَفَاتِكُمْ بِثُلُثِ أَمْوَالِكُمْ زِيَادَةً لَكُمْ فِي أَعْمَالِكُمْ  

“(Allah says) O son of Adam! I have given you two things which you do not deserve (except by mercy of Allah (SWT)): I allow you to dispose of a share of your wealth when you are on your deathbed, in order to cleanse and purify you, and my slaves pray for you after your life is over.”  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ اثْنَتَانِ لَمْ تَكُنْ لَكَ وَاحِدَةٌ مِنْهُمَا جَعَلْتُ لَكَ نَصِيبًا مِنْ مَالِكَ حِينَ أَخَذْتُ بِكَظَمِكَ لأُطَهِّرَكَ بِهِ وَأُزَكِّيَكَ وَصَلاَةُ عِبَادِي عَلَيْكَ بَعْدَ انْقِضَاءِ أَجَلِكَ  

“I would like the people to reduce (the will) from one third to one quarter, because the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: 'One third is a lot.'”  

أَنَّ النَّاسَ غَضُّوا مِنَ الثُّلُثِ إِلَى الرُّبُعِ لأَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ الثُّلُثُ كَبِيرٌ أَوْ كَثِيرٌ