"A man came to the Prophet and said: 'O Messenger of Allah, what kind of charity brings the greatest reward?' He said: 'To give in charity when you are healthy and feeling miserly, and fearing poverty and hoping for a long life. Do not wait until the (death rattle) reaches the throat and then say: "This is for so and so," and it nearly became the property of so and so (the heirs).'"
أَخْبَرَنَا هَنَّادُ بْنُ السَّرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ التَّيْمِيِّ، عَنِ الْحَارِثِ بْنِ سُوَيْدٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " أَيُّكُمْ مَالُ وَارِثِهِ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ مَالِهِ ". قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا مِنَّا مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلاَّ مَالُهُ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ مَالِ وَارِثِهِ. قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " اعْلَمُوا أَنَّهُ لَيْسَ مِنْكُمْ مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلاَّ مَالُ وَارِثِهِ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ مَالِهِ مَالُكَ مَا قَدَّمْتَ وَمَالُ وَارِثِكَ مَا أَخَّرْتَ ".
"The Messenger of Allah said: 'For whom among you is the wealth of his heirs dearer to him than his own wealth?' They said: 'O Messenger of Allah, there is no one among us for whom his own wealth is not dearer to him than the wealth of his heirs.' The Messenger of Allah said: 'Know that there is no one among you for whom the wealth of his heirs is not dearer than his own wealth. Your wealth is that which you have sent on ahead, and the wealth of your heirs is that which you have kept.'"
"The mutual rivalry (for piling up of worldly things) diverts you, 'Until you visit the graves (i.e. till you die).' The son of Adam says: 'My wealth, my wealth,' but your wealth is what you eat and consume, or what you wear and it wears out, or what you give in charity and send on ahead (for the Hereafter).'"
"A man made a will leaving some Dinars (to be spent) in the cause of Allah. Abu Ad-Darda' was asked about that, and he narrated that the Prophet said: 'The likeness of the one who frees a slave or gives some charity when he is dying, is that of a man who gives a gift after he has eaten his fill.'"
"The Messenger of Allah said: 'It is not befitting for a Muslim who has anything concerning which a will should be made, to abide for two nights without having a written will with him.'"
"It is not befitting for a Muslim who has anything concerning which a will should be made, to abide for two nights without having a written will with him."
"It is not befitting for a Muslim to abide for three nights without having his will with him." 'Abdullah bin 'Umar said: "Since I heard this from the Messenger of Allah, I have always had my will with me."
"It is not right for a Muslim who has anything concerning which a will should be made, to abide for more than three nights without having a written will with him."
"I asked Ibn Abi Awfa: 'Did the Messenger of Allah leave a will?' He said: 'No.' I said: 'How come it is prescribed for the Muslims to make wills?' He said: 'He left instructions urging the Muslims to adhere to the Book of Allah.'"