Hadith: It is not proper for a Muslim who has something to bequeath to stay for three nights without having his will written with him

عَنْ ابْنِ عُمَرَ رَضيَ اللهُ عنهُما أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ:
«مَا حَقُّ امْرِئٍ مُسْلِمٍ لَهُ شَيْءٌ يُوصِي فِيهِ، يَبِيتُ ثَلَاثَ لَيَالٍ، إِلَّا وَوَصِيَّتُهُ عِنْدَهُ مَكْتُوبَةٌ»، قَالَ عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ عُمَرَ رضي الله عنهما: «مَا مَرَّتْ عَلَيَّ لَيْلَةٌ مُنْذُ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ ذَلِكَ إِلَّا وَعِنْدِي وَصِيَّتِي».
[صحيح] - [متفق عليه] - [صحيح مسلم: 1627]

Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported that he heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) say:
"It is not proper for a Muslim who has something to bequeath to stay for three nights without having his will written with him." ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) said: "Since I heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) say this, not a single night has passed without my will being with me."
[Authentic hadith] - [Narrated by Bukhari & Muslim] - [Sahih Muslim - 1627]

Explanation

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informed that a Muslim who has any rights or properties to bequeath, even if small, should not spend three nights without having his will written and ready with him. ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) said: I have not spent a single night since I heard the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) say that without having my will ready with me.

Benefits from the Hadith

1. The legitimacy of making a will and hastening to do so as a means of clarifying it, adhering to the command of the Lawgiver, preparing for death, and contemplating its details and beneficiaries before being distracted by any obstacle.
2. Wasiyyah (a will): It means a covenant whereby a person entrusts someone to handle something from his wealth after his death, assigns someone to care for his young children, or entrusts someone with any task or matter he owns after his death.
3. The will is classified into three categories: 1. Recommended: A will that allocates part of one's wealth to be spent in charitable causes or acts of kindness, so the reward continues to reach him after his death. 2. Obligatory: A will that includes any owed rights, whether these are the rights due to Allah Almighty, such as unpaid Zakah, expiation, or similar obligations by Islamic law, or rights due to others, such as debts or entrusted items. 3. Prohibited: A will that exceeds one-third of one's wealth or includes a bequest to an heir.
4. The merit of Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) and his hastening to do good deeds and adherence to the commands of the wise Lawgiver.
5. Ibn Daqīq al-‘Eid said: Allowing two or three nights is to alleviate hardship and difficulty.
6. Important matters should be documented in writing because it ensures greater accuracy and preserves rights more effectively.