The virtue of passing away and leaving behind a will

What is the status of this Hadith?

Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:

“Whoever passes away leaving a will [stating whatever is necessary to state], he passes away on the straight path and on the Sunnah and he passes away with piety and witness and he passes away forgiven”

Answer:

Imam Ibn Majah (rahimahullah) has recorded this Hadith on the authority of Sayyiduna Jabir (radiyallahu ‘anhu) with a weak chain.

(Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith: 2701. Refer: Zawaid Ibn Majah, Hadith: 907 and Targhib, vol. 4 pg. 326)

Despite its weakness, the Hadith can be quoted for the purpose of encouraging this noble deed.

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar

This answer was collected from HadithAnswers.com. The answers were either answered or checked by Moulana Haroon Abasoomar (rahimahullah) who was a Shaykhul Hadith in South Africa, or by his son, Moulana Muhammad Abasoomer (hafizahullah), who is a Hadith specialist. 

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