It is Disliked To Delay Making A Will
Darussalam · Volume 4
30. The Book Of Wills(المعجم ٣٠) - كتاب الوصاياSunan an-Nasai Darussalam English translation
الحديث: 3615 ¦ الجزء: 6 ¦ الصفحة: 238
Source no. 3615 · Volume 8 · Page 187
Sahih
صحيح، ابن ماجة (٢٦٩٩)
Source no. 3379 · Volume 2 · Page 768
Sahih
(صحيح) - ابن ماجه ٢٦٩٩: ق.
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3645. It was narrated that Ibn 'Umar said: "The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said: 'It is not befitting for a Muslim who has anything concerning which a will should be made, to abide for two nights without having a written will with him.'" (Sahih)
3615 - أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا الْفُضَيْلُ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنْ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَا حَقُّ امْرِئٍ مُسْلِمٍ لَهُ شَيْءٌ يُوصَى فِيهِ أَنْ يَبِيتَ لَيْلَتَيْنِ، إِلَّا وَوَصِيَّتُهُ مَكْتُوبَةٌ عِنْدَهُ»
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This is because life has no certainty. Death could strike at any moment. Therefore, the required bequest should be made soon. Moreover, one should also appoint witnesses upon the bequest so that dispute might not surface later on. The bequest ought to be made in writing in order to avoid any future disagreement. From the mention of two nights, one realizes that a night's delay is admissible. And Allāh knows best! The mention of two might possibly have been incidental; as in some upcoming narrations, there is mention of three also. So to say, a night's delay is also not permissible without need.