Al-Kāfi 7, record 136 of the digital edition

Translation

29. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad and Ahmad ibn Muhammad from and Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father all from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from Ali ibn Ri’ab from Ja‘far ibn Hayyan who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who endowed an asset that belonged to him for his relatives from his father’s side as well as for those from his mother’s side. He assigned from the same asset three hundred dirham every year in his will for a man and his heirs with whom he had no relationship and that the rest must be distributed between the two relatives from the side of each of his parents. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is permissible for the ones in whose favor the will is made.’ I then asked, ‘What happens if the income is not more than five hundred?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Is it not the case that three hundred must be given and the remaining is distributed between the two relatives?’ I replied, ‘Yes, that is the case.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘The relatives cannot take anything from the income until the three hundred is paid and thereafter they can distribute between themselves whatever is left.’ I then asked, ‘What happens if the one in whose favor the will is for three hundred dies?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘If he dies the three hundred goes to his heirs if there are any heirs left, otherwise, the three hundred goes to the relatives of the deceased which will be taken from the endowment and will be distributed among them as they exist as well as the income.’ I then asked, ‘Can the relatives of the deceased sell the land when they need it if the income thereof is not enough?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, they can do so if they all agree and the sale is in their benefit.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — published with the edition, reproduced verbatim.