Concerning His words, the Exalted, 'And among people is he who sells himself seeking the pleasure of God' [Qur'an 2:207], it is related from the Commander of the Faithful (AS) that what is meant by the verse is enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong. (Fiqh al-Qur'an, vol. 1, p. 261)
The Commander of the Faithful (AS) said: What is meant by the phrase 'he who sells himself seeking the pleasure of God' — that is, one who sacrifices himself for God's good pleasure — is the person who enjoins what is right and forbids what is wrong.
It is related that Ali (AS) came in to a client of his during his illness, and he had seven hundred dirhams, or six hundred. He said: Shall I not make a bequest? He (AS) said: No. God, glory be to Him, said only 'if he leaves behind wealth' [Qur'an 2:180], and you do not have much wealth. (Fiqh al-Qur'an, vol. 1, p. 301)
The Commander of the Faithful (AS) went to visit one of his servants who was on his deathbed. The servant said: Shall I make a bequest? The Commander of the Faithful (AS) said: No; a bequest is for one who leaves behind a great deal of wealth, not for you, whose property does not even amount to seven hundred dirhams. God has said: 'if he leaves behind wealth' — and 'wealth' here means abundant property.
We say: Seven hundred dirhams means seventy dinars, and each dinar is roughly equivalent to one of today's current half coins.
The Commander of the Faithful (AS) said: Whoever makes a bequest and neither acts unjustly nor causes harm is like one who gave it in charity during his lifetime. And whoever does not make a bequest at his death in favor of those relatives of his who do not inherit has sealed his deeds with an act of disobedience. God the Exalted has said: 'It is prescribed for you, when death approaches one of you and he leaves behind wealth, to make a bequest to parents and near relatives, in fairness — a duty upon the God-fearing' [Qur'an 2:180]. (Fiqh al-Qur'an, vol. 1, p. 316)
The Commander of the Faithful (AS) said: One who makes a bequest and, in his bequest, observes what is proper and does no harm to the heirs, is like one who gave charity during his lifetime. Likewise, one who at his death makes no bequest for those relatives who do not inherit but who have expectations has sealed his deeds with an act of disobedience.