(65) Chapter: Remembrance of Death and Restraint of Wishes

'Abdullah bin 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "It is the duty of a Muslim who has something which is to be given as a bequest not to have it for two nights without executing a written will." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]. In the narration of Muslim it is narrated as 'three nights'. Ibn 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) said: Since I heard the Messenger of Allah say this, I have never spent a night without having my will with me. Commentary: The emphasis of Messenger of Allah (PBUH) on the necessity of making a last will shows that man has no knowledge of the time of his death. It is necessary for the rich that they should keep with them a testament so as to leave their affairs settled after their death and to ward off any untoward situation with regard to the distribution of their property among their inheritors.