What is the ruling regarding a bequest made to the testator's 'Aal' (family)?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Bequests
Primary text
A bequest made to the 'Aal' (family) is treated the same as a bequest to relatives ('qarabah'). Based on a narration from Zayd ibn Arqam, the 'Aal' of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) are his immediate family and kin who are prohibited from receiving charity after him, specifically the 'Aal' of Ali, 'Aal' of Al-Abbas, 'Aal' of Ja'far, and 'Aal' of 'Aqil. The linguistic root of 'Aal' is 'Ahl' (family), where the 'haa' (ه) was transformed into a hamza (ء) and elongated to prevent the meeting of two hamzas.