QUR'AN...

QUR'AN: But he who fears an inclination (to a wrong course) or an act of disobedience on the part of the testator, and effects an agreement between the parties, there is no blame on him: al-Janaf (inclination; deviation); it is said that it indicates out­ward inclination of the feet, and al-hanaf shows their inward inclination. In any case, it is used here to denote an incli­nation towards sin and disobedience, as it is followed by "or an act of disobedience".

The verse branches out from the preceding one. Its meaning is as follows (and Allah knows better): The sin of alteration is only upon those who alter the bequest (which was made according to usage).

Of course, if someone fears that the bequest of the testator is, or shall be, an act of disobedience or inclined towards a wrong course, and then effects an agreement between the parties, free from error and sin, then there is no blame on him; because he has not changed a bequest made according to usage; rather he has altered only the wrong and sin found in it. **TRADITIONS ** Muhammad ibn Muslim says that he asked as-Sadiq ( a.s.) whether a bequest was allowed in favor of an heir.

The Imam said: "Yes". Then he recited this verse, "Bequest is prescribed . . . if he leave behind wealth, for parents and near relatives. . . " (al-'Ayyashi). This tradition is also narrated, with a slight change in wording, in al-Kafi and at-Tahdhib.

as-Sadiq (a.s.) narrates through his father from 'Ali (a.s.) that he said: "He who did not bequeath at the time of his death for those of his near relatives who were not his heirs, surely ended his deeds with disobedience." (al-Ayyashi) as-Sadiq ( a.s.) said about this verse: "(It is) a right which Allah has given in the properties of men to the Master of this affair (i.e. to the Imam)." The narrator says: "I said: 'Is there a prescribed limit for it? He said: 'Yes'.

I said: 'How much?' He said: 'Its lower limit is one-sixth; and the higher, one-third."' (al-'Ayyashi) The author says: This theme has been narrated also by as­-Saduq in his al-Faqih from the same Imam.