Surah 4. An-Nisaa, Ayah 11
| يُوصِيكُمُ اللَّهُ فِي أَوْلَادِكُمْ ۖ لِلذَّكَرِ مِثْلُ حَظِّ الْأُنْثَيَيْنِ ۚ فَإِنْ كُنَّ نِسَاءً فَوْقَ اثْنَتَيْنِ فَلَهُنَّ ثُلُثَا مَا تَرَكَ ۖ وَإِنْ كَانَتْ وَاحِدَةً فَلَهَا النِّصْفُ ۚ وَلِأَبَوَيْهِ لِكُلِّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمَا السُّدُسُ مِمَّا تَرَكَ إِنْ كَانَ لَهُ وَلَدٌ ۚ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ وَلَدٌ وَوَرِثَهُ أَبَوَاهُ فَلِأُمِّهِ الثُّلُثُ ۚ فَإِنْ كَانَ لَهُ إِخْوَةٌ فَلِأُمِّهِ السُّدُسُ ۚ مِنْ بَعْدِ وَصِيَّةٍ يُوصِي بِهَا أَوْ دَيْنٍ ۗ آبَاؤُكُمْ وَأَبْنَاؤُكُمْ لَا تَدْرُونَ أَيُّهُمْ أَقْرَبُ لَكُمْ نَفْعًا ۚ فَرِيضَةً مِنَ اللَّهِ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا |
| Asad | : | CONCERNING [the inheritance of] your children, God enjoins [this] upon you:8 The male shall have the equal of two females' share; but if there are more than two females, they shall have two-thirds of what [their parents] leave behind; and if there is only one, she shall have one-half thereof. And as for the parents [of the deceased], each of them shall have one-sixth of what he leaves behind, in the event of his having [left] a child; but if he has left no child and his parents are his [only] heirs, then his mother shall have one-third; and if he has brothers and sisters, then his mother shall have one-sixth after [the deduction of] any bequest he may have made, or any debt [he may have incurred]. As for your parents and your children - you know not which of them is more deserving of benefit from you: [therefore this] ordinance from God. Verily, God is all-knowing, wise. |
| Malik | : | In regard to inheritance Allah commands you concerning your children: that the share of a boy shall be twice that of a girl. In the case where there are more than two girls, their share will be two thirds of the estate; but if there is only one girl, her share will be one half of the estate. If the deceased left children behind, each of the parents shall get one sixth of the estate, but if the deceased left no children and the parents are the only heirs, the mother shall get one third of the estate, but if the deceased left brothers and sisters, then the mother will get one sixth of it. The distribution in all cases shall be after fulfilling the terms of the last will and the payment of debts. With regards to your parents and your children, you do not know who is more beneficial to you, therefore, Allah issued this ordinance. Surely Allah is the Knowledgeable, Wise. |
| Pickthall | : | Allah chargeth you concerning (the provision for) your children: to the male the equivalent of the portion of two females, and if there be women more than two, then theirs is two-thirds of the inheritance, and if there be one (only) then the half. And to his parents a sixth of the inheritance, if he have a son; and if he have no son and his parents are his heirs, then to his mother appertaineth the third; and if he have brethren, then to his mother appertaineth the sixth, after any legacy he may have bequeathed, or debt (hath been paid). Your parents or your children: Ye know not which of them is nearer unto you in usefulness. It is an injunction from Allah. Lo! Allah is Knower, Wise. |
| Yusuf Ali | : | Allah (thus) directs you as regards your children's (inheritance): to the male a portion equal to that of two females: if only daughters two or more their share is two-thirds of the inheritance; if only one her share is a half. For parents a sixth share of the inheritance to each if the deceased left children; if no children and the parents are the (only) heirs the mother has a third; if the deceased left brothers (or sisters) the mother has a sixth. (The distribution in all cases is) after the payment of legacies and debts. Ye know not whether your parents or your children are nearest to you in benefit. These are settled portions ordained by Allah and Allah is All-Knowing All-Wise. 516 517 518 |
| Transliteration | : | yos.e -kum 'allaah fe awlaad -kum li- adh- dhakar mathal h.az.z. al- 'unthayain fa- 'in kunna nisaa' fawqa ithnatain fa- la- -hunna thuluthaa maa taraka wa- 'in kaanat waah.idah fa- la- -haa an- nis.f wa- li- 'abawai -hi li- kull waah.id min -humaa as- sudus min maa taraka 'in kaana la- -hu walad fa- 'in lam yakun la- -hu walad wa- waritha -hu 'abawaa -hu fa- li- 'umm -hi ath- thuluth fa- 'in kaana la- -hu 'ikhwah fa- li- 'umm -hi as- sudus min bacdi was.eyah yos.e bi- -haa 'aw dayn 'aabaa' -kum wa- abnaa' -kum laa tadron 'ayy -hum aqrab la- -kum nafc(an) fared.ah min 'allaah 'inna 'allaah kaana calem(an) h.akem(an) |
Note - 8In my notes on verses {11-12}, which spell out the legal
shares of inheritance due to the next of kin, no attempt
has been made to analyze all the legal implications of
this ordinance. The laws of inheritance are the subject
of a special, and very elaborate, branch of Islamic
jurisprudence, and their full elucidation would go far
beyond the scope of explanatory notes which aim at no
more than making the text of the Qur'an accessible to the
understanding of the non-specialized reader.
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Note - 516The principles of inheritance law are laid down in broad
outline in the Qur-an; the precise details have been
worked out on the basis of the Prophet's practice and
that of his Companions, and by interpretation and
analogy. Muslim jurists have collected a vast amount of
learning on this subject, and this body of law is enough
by itself to form the subject of life-long study. Here we
shall deal only with the broad principles to be gathered
from the Text, as interpreted by the Jurists. (1) The
power of testamentary disposition extends over only
one-third of the Property; the remaining two-thirds are
distributed among heirs as laid down. (2) All
distribution takes place after the legacies and debts
(including funeral expenses) have first been paid. (3)
Legacies cannot be left to any of the heirs included in
the scheme of distribution; or it will amount to
upsetting the shares and undue preference of one heir to
another. (4) Generally, but not always, the male takes a
share double that of a female in his own category.
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Note - 517At first sight, the Arabic words seem to mean: "if more
than two daughters." But the alternative in the next
clause is: "if only one daughter." Logically, therefore,
the first clause must mean: "if daughters, two or more."
This is the general interpretation, and is confirmed by
the supplementary provision in iv. 176 at the end of the
Sura, which should be read along with this.
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Note - 518This verse deals with the portions allotted to (a)
children, and (b) parents. The next verse deals with the
portions allotted to (c) husband or wife of the deceased,
and (d) collaterals. The children's shares are fixed, but
their amount will depend upon what goes to the parents.
If both parents are living, and there are also children,
both father and mother take a sixth each: if only one
parent is living, he or she takes his or her sixth; and
the rest goes to the children. If the parents are living,
and there is no child or other heir, the mother gets a
third (and the father the remaining two-thirds); if there
are no children, but there are brothers or sisters (this
is interpreted strictly in the plural), the mother has a
sixth, and the father apparently the residue, as the
father excludes collaterals. This is far from being an
exhaustive statement, but it establishes the proposition
that children and parents have always some share if they
survive, but their shares are affected by the existence
and number of the heirs in these categories.
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In my notes on verses {11-12}, which spell out the legal shares of inheritance due to the next of kin, no attempt has been made to analyze all the legal implications of this ordinance. The laws of inheritance are the subject of a special, and very elaborate, branch of Islamic jurisprudence, and their full elucidation would go far beyond the scope of explanatory notes which aim at no more than making the text of the Qur'an accessible to the understanding of the non-specialized reader. |
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The principles of inheritance law are laid down in broad outline in the Qur-an; the precise details have been worked out on the basis of the Prophet's practice and that of his Companions, and by interpretation and analogy. Muslim jurists have collected a vast amount of learning on this subject, and this body of law is enough by itself to form the subject of life-long study. Here we shall deal only with the broad principles to be gathered from the Text, as interpreted by the Jurists. (1) The power of testamentary disposition extends over only one-third of the Property; the remaining two-thirds are distributed among heirs as laid down. (2) All distribution takes place after the legacies and debts (including funeral expenses) have first been paid. (3) Legacies cannot be left to any of the heirs included in the scheme of distribution; or it will amount to upsetting the shares and undue preference of one heir to another. (4) Generally, but not always, the male takes a share double that of a female in his own category. |
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At first sight, the Arabic words seem to mean: "if more than two daughters." But the alternative in the next clause is: "if only one daughter." Logically, therefore, the first clause must mean: "if daughters, two or more." This is the general interpretation, and is confirmed by the supplementary provision in iv. 176 at the end of the Sura, which should be read along with this. |
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This verse deals with the portions allotted to (a) children, and (b) parents. The next verse deals with the portions allotted to (c) husband or wife of the deceased, and (d) collaterals. The children's shares are fixed, but their amount will depend upon what goes to the parents. If both parents are living, and there are also children, both father and mother take a sixth each: if only one parent is living, he or she takes his or her sixth; and the rest goes to the children. If the parents are living, and there is no child or other heir, the mother gets a third (and the father the remaining two-thirds); if there are no children, but there are brothers or sisters (this is interpreted strictly in the plural), the mother has a sixth, and the father apparently the residue, as the father excludes collaterals. This is far from being an exhaustive statement, but it establishes the proposition that children and parents have always some share if they survive, but their shares are affected by the existence and number of the heirs in these categories. |
