Chapters on Shares of Inheritance

Chapter 1Chapter: Encouragement to learn about inheritance

Differing grades No. 2719

“O Abu Hurairah. Learn about the inheritance and teach it, for it is half of knowledge, but it will be forgotten. This is the first thing that will be taken away from my nation.’”

تَعَلَّمُوا الْفَرَائِضَ وَعَلِّمُوهَا فَإِنَّهُ نِصْفُ الْعِلْمِ وَهُوَ يُنْسَى وَهُوَ أَوَّلُ شَىْءٍ يُنْتَزَعُ مِنْ أُمَّتِي ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Chapter 2Chapter: Shares for descendants

Differing grades No. 2720

“The wife of Sa’d bin Rabi’ came with the two daughters of Sa’d to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, these are the two daughters of Sa’d. He was killed with you on the day of Uhud, and their paternal uncle has taken all that their father left behind, and a woman is only married for…

"‏ أَعْطِ ابْنَتَىْ سَعْدٍ ثُلُثَىْ مَالِهِ وَأَعْطِ امْرَأَتَهُ الثُّمُنَ وَخُذْ أَنْتَ مَا بَقِيَ ‏"

Narrated by Jābir ibn ‘Abdullāh

Authentic No. 2721

“A man came to Abu Musa Al-Ash’ari and Salman bin Rabi’ah Al-Bahili and asked them about (the shares of) a daughter, a son’s daughter, a sister through one’s father and mother. They said: ‘The daughter gets one half, and what is left goes to the sister. Go to Ibn Mas’ud, for he will concur with…

لِلاِبْنَةِ النِّصْفُ وَلاِبْنَةِ الاِبْنِ السُّدُسُ تَكْمِلَةَ الثُّلُثَيْنِ وَمَا بَقِيَ فَلِلأُخْتِ ‏.‏

Narrated by Abdullah ibn Mas‘ūd + 11 other versions

Chapter 3Chapter: The share of the grandfather

Differing grades No. 2722

“I heard the Prophet (ﷺ) when a case was brought to him which involved the share of a grandfather. He gave him one third, or one sixth.”

أُتِيَ بِفَرِيضَةٍ فِيهَا جَدٌّ فَأَعْطَاهُ ثُلُثًا أَوْ سُدُسًا ‏.‏

Narrated by Ma‘qil ibn Yasār + 1 other version

Differing grades No. 2723

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) ruled concerning a grandfather who was among us, that he should receive one sixth.”

قَضَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي جَدٍّ كَانَ فِينَا بِالسُّدُسِ

Narrated by Ma‘qil ibn Yasār

Chapter 4Chapter: The inheritance of a grandfather

Differing grades No. 2724

“A grandmother came to Abu Bakr Siddiq and asked him for her inheritance. Abu Bakr said to her: ‘You have nothing according to the Book of Allah, and I don’t know of anything for you according to the Book of Allah, and I don’t know of anything for you according to the Sunnah of the Messenger of…

أَعْطَاهَا السُّدُسَ فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ هَلْ مَعَكَ غَيْرُكَ فَقَامَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ الأَنْصَارِيُّ فَقَالَ مِثْلَ مَا قَالَ الْمُغِيرَةُ بْنُ شُعْبَةَ فَأَنْفَذَهُ لَهَا أَبُو بَكْرٍ

Narrated by Umar ibn al-Khattāb + 1 other version

Authentic No. 2725

It was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbas that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) gave a grandmother one sixth of the inheritance.

وَرَّثَ جَدَّةً سُدُسًا ‏.‏

Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbās

Chapter 5Chapter: One who leaves behind no heir

Authentic No. 2726

“By Allah, I am not leaving behind any problem more difficult than the one who leaves behind an heir. I asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and he never spoke so harshly to me about anything as he spoke to me about this. He jabbed his finger into my side or my chest and said: ‘O ‘Umar, sufficient for…

تَكْفِيكَ آيَةُ الصَّيْفِ الَّتِي نَزَلَتْ فِي آخِرِ سُورَةِ النِّسَاءِ ‏"

Narrated by Umar ibn al-Khattāb + 3 other versions

Weak No. 2727

“There are three things, if the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had clarified them, that would have been dearer to me than the world and everything in it: a person who leaves behind no heir, usury, and the caliphate.”

ثَلاَثٌ لأَنْ يَكُونَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بَيَّنَهُنَّ أَحَبُّ إِلَىَّ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا وَمَا فِيهَا الْكَلاَلَةُ وَالرِّبَا وَالْخِلاَفَةُ ‏.‏

Narrated by Umar ibn al-Khattāb

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) No. 2728

“I fell sick and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came to visit me, he and Abu Bakr with him, and they came walking. I had lost consciousness, so the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) performed ablution and poured some of the water of his ablution over me. I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, what should I do? How should…

مَرِضْتُ فَأَتَانِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَعُودُنِي هُوَ وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ مَعَهُ وَهُمَا مَاشِيَانِ وَقَدْ أُغْمِيَ عَلَىَّ فَتَوَضَّأَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَصَبَّ عَلَىَّ مِنْ وَضُوئِهِ…

Narrated by Jābir ibn ‘Abdullāh + 9 other versions

Chapter 6Chapter: The people of Islam inheriting from the people of polytheism

Authentic No. 2729

“The Muslim does not inherit from a disbeliever and the disbeliever does not inherit from a Muslim.”

"‏ لاَ يَرِثُ الْمُسْلِمُ الْكَافِرَ وَلاَ الْكَافِرُ الْمُسْلِمَ ‏"

Narrated by Usāmah ibn Zayd + 11 other versions

Authentic No. 2730

“O Messenger of Allah, will you stay in your house in Makkah?” He said: “Has ‘Aqeel left us any houses?” 'Aqeel had inherited Abu Talib along with Talib. Neither Ja'far nor 'Ali inherited anything because they had been Muslims, and 'Aqeel and Talib had been disbelievers. So on account of that, Omar…

"‏ لاَ يَرِثُ الْمُسْلِمُ الْكَافِرَ وَلاَ الْكَافِرُ الْمُسْلِمَ ‏"

Narrated by Usāmah ibn Zayd + 11 other versions

Authentic No. 2731

“People of two different religions do not inherit from one another.”

"‏ لاَ يَتَوَارَثُ أَهْلُ مِلَّتَيْنِ ‏"

Narrated by Abdullah ibn Amr + 3 other versions

Chapter 7Chapter: Inheritance of Wala’

Good (hasan) No. 2732

“Rabab bin Hudhaifah (bin Sa’eed) bin Sahm married Umm Wa’il bint Ma’mar Al-Jumahiyyah, and she bore him three sons. Their mother died and her sons inherited her houses and the Wala’ of her freed slaves. ‘Amr bin ‘As took them out to Sham, and they died of the plague of ‘Amwas. ‘Amr inherited from…

"‏ مَا أَحْرَزَ الْوَلَدُ أَوِ الْوَالِدُ فَهُوَ لِعَصَبَتِهِ مَنْ كَانَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ فَقَضَى لَنَا بِهِ وَكَتَبَ لَنَا بِهِ كِتَابًا فِيهِ شَهَادَةُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ عَوْفٍ وَزَيْدِ بْنِ ثَابِتٍ وَآخَرَ حَتَّى…

Narrated by Umar ibn al-Khattāb + 3 other versions

Differing grades No. 2733

“Give his legacy to a man from his village.”

"‏ أَعْطُوا مِيرَاثَهُ رَجُلاً مِنْ أَهْلِ قَرْيَتِهِ ‏"

Narrated by Ā’ishah + 3 other versions

Differing grades No. 2734

“My freed slave died, leaving behind a daughter. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) divided his wealth between myself and his daughter, giving me half and her half.”

مَاتَ مَوْلاَىَ وَتَرَكَ ابْنَةً فَقَسَمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَالَهُ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ ابْنَتِهِ فَجَعَلَ لِيَ النِّصْفَ وَلَهَا النِّصْفَ ‏.‏

Narrated by Bint Hamza

Chapter 8Chapter: The inheritance of a killer

Differing grades No. 2735

“The killer does not inherit.”

"‏ الْقَاتِلُ لاَ يَرِثُ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah + 3 other versions

Differing grades No. 2736

“A woman inherits from the blood money and wealth of her husband, and he inherits from her blood money and wealth, so long as one of them did not kill the other. If one of them killed the other deliberately, then he or she inherits nothing from the blood money or wealth. If one of them killed the…

"‏ الْمَرْأَةُ تَرِثُ مِنْ دِيَةِ زَوْجِهَا وَمَالِهِ وَهُوَ يَرِثُ مِنْ دِيَتِهَا وَمَالِهَا مَا لَمْ يَقْتُلْ أَحَدُهُمَا صَاحِبَهُ فَإِذَا قَتَلَ أَحَدُهُمَا صَاحِبَهُ عَمْدًا لَمْ يَرِثْ مِنْ دِيَتِهِ وَمَالِهِ…

Narrated by Abdullah ibn Amr + 1 other version

Chapter 9Chapter: Relations of the womb

Differing grades No. 2737

“Allah and His Messenger are the guardians of the one who has no guardian, and the maternal uncle is the heir of one who has no other heir.”

"‏ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ مَوْلَى مَنْ لاَ مَوْلَى لَهُ وَالْخَالُ وَارِثُ مَنْ لاَ وَارِثَ لَهُ ‏"

Narrated by Umar ibn al-Khattāb + 4 other versions

Differing grades No. 2738

“Whoever leaves behind wealth, it is for his heirs. Whoever leaves behind poor dependents and a debt, it is for us to take care of – or he said: ‘It is for Allah and His Messenger (to take care of) – I am the heir of the one who has no heir, I will pay the blood money on his behalf and inherit from…

"‏ مَنْ تَرَكَ مَالاً فَلِوَرَثَتِهِ وَمَنْ تَرَكَ كَلاًّ فَإِلَيْنَا - وَرُبَّمَا قَالَ فَإِلَى اللَّهِ وَإِلَى رَسُولِهِ - وَأَنَا وَارِثُ مَنْ لاَ وَارِثَ لَهُ أَعْقِلُ عَنْهُ وَأَرِثُهُ وَالْخَالُ وَارِثُ مَنْ لاَ…

Narrated by Al-Miqdām + 5 other versions

Chapter 10Chapter: Inheritance from the male relatives from the father’s side

Differing grades No. 2739

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) ruled that the sons from the same mother inherit from one another, but not sons from different mothers. A man inherits from his full brother from the same father and mother, but not his brothers from his father.”

أَنَّ أَعْيَانَ بَنِي الأُمِّ يَتَوَارَثُونَ دُونَ بَنِي الْعَلاَّتِ يَرِثُ الرَّجُلُ أَخَاهُ لأَبِيهِ وَأُمِّهِ دُونَ إِخْوَتِهِ لأَبِيهِ ‏.‏

Narrated by Ali + 9 other versions

Authentic No. 2740

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘Distribute wealth among those who are entitled to shares of inheritance, according to the Book of Allah, then whatever is left over goes to the nearest male relative.’”

"‏ اقْسِمُوا الْمَالَ بَيْنَ أَهْلِ الْفَرَائِضِ عَلَى كِتَابِ اللَّهِ فَمَا تَرَكَتِ الْفَرَائِضُ فَلأَوْلَى رَجُلٍ ذَكَرٍ ‏"

Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbās + 3 other versions

Chapter 11Chapter: One who has no heir

Weak No. 2741

“A man died at the time of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and he left no heir except for a slave whom he had set free. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) gave the legacy to him.”

مَاتَ رَجُلٌ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَلَمْ يَدَعْ لَهُ وَارِثًا إِلاَّ عَبْدًا هُوَ أَعْتَقَهُ فَدَفَعَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِيرَاثَهُ إِلَيْهِ ‏.‏

Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbās + 2 other versions

Chapter 12Chapter: A woman may get three types of inheritance

Weak No. 2742

“A woman may get three types of inheritance: From her freed slave woman, a foundling whom she raised, and her child concerning whom she swore in Li’an that he was legitimate.”

"‏ الْمَرْأَةُ تَحُوزُ ثَلاَثَ مَوَارِيثَ عَتِيقِهَا وَلَقِيطِهَا وَوَلَدِهَا الَّذِي لاَعَنَتْ عَلَيْهِ ‏"

Narrated by Ibn al-Asqa + 6 other versions

Chapter 13Chapter: One who rejects his child

Differing grades No. 2743

“Then the Verse of Li’an was revealed, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘Any woman who attributed her child to people to whom he does not belong, then she has no relation to (the religion of) Allah, and she will never enter Paradise, and any man who rejects his child, while he recognizes him, Allah…

"‏ أَيُّمَا امْرَأَةٍ أَلْحَقَتْ بِقَوْمٍ مَنْ لَيْسَ مِنْهُمْ فَلَيْسَتْ مِنَ اللَّهِ فِي شَىْءٍ وَلَنْ يُدْخِلَهَا جَنَّتَهُ وَأَيُّمَا رَجُلٍ أَنْكَرَ وَلَدَهُ وَقَدْ عَرَفَهُ احْتَجَبَ اللَّهُ مِنْهُ يَوْمَ…

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah + 5 other versions

Authentic No. 2744

“It is disbelief for a man to attribute himself to someone other than his father knowingly, or to deny his connection to his father, even subtly.”*

"‏ كُفْرٌ بِامْرِئٍ ادِّعَاءُ نَسَبٍ لاَ يَعْرِفُهُ أَوْ جَحْدُهُ وَإِنْ دَقَّ ‏"

Narrated by Abdullah ibn Amr

Chapter 14Chapter: Claiming a child

Good (hasan) No. 2745

“Whoever commits adultery with a slave woman or a free woman, his child is illegitimate, and he cannot inherit from him or be inherited from (i.e., this child cannot inherit from him).”

"‏ مَنْ عَاهَرَ أَمَةً أَوْ حُرَّةً فَوَلَدُهُ وَلَدُ زِنًا لاَ يَرِثُ وَلاَ يُورَثُ ‏"

Narrated by Abdullah ibn Amr

Differing grades No. 2746

“Every child who is attributed to his father after his father to whom he is attributed has died, and his heirs attributed him to him after he died, he ruled that* whoever was born to a slave woman whom he owned at the time when he had intercourse with her, he should be named after the one to whom…

"‏ كُلُّ مُسْتَلْحَقٍ اسْتُلْحِقَ بَعْدَ أَبِيهِ الَّذِي يُدْعَى لَهُ ادَّعَاهُ وَرَثَتُهُ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ فَقَضَى أَنَّ مَنْ كَانَ مِنْ أَمَةٍ يَمْلِكُهَا يَوْمَ أَصَابَهَا فَقَدْ لَحِقَ بِمَنِ اسْتَلْحَقَهُ وَلَيْسَ…

Narrated by Abdullah ibn Amr + 12 other versions

Chapter 15Chapter: Prohibition of selling the right of inheritance

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) No. 2747

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade selling the right of inheritance or giving it away.”

عَنْ بَيْعِ الْوَلاَءِ وَعَنْ هِبَتِهِ ‏.‏

Narrated by Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar + 19 other versions

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) No. 2748

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade selling the right of inheritance, or giving it as a gift.

عَنْ بَيْعِ الْوَلاَءِ وَعَنْ هِبَتِهِ ‏.‏

Narrated by Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar + 19 other versions

Chapter 16Chapter: Division of inheritance

Differing grades No. 2749

“Whatever division of inheritance was made during the Ignorance period, stands according to the division of the Ignorance period, and whatever division of inheritance was made during Islam, it stands according to the division of Islam.”

"‏ مَا كَانَ مِنْ مِيرَاثٍ قُسِمَ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ فَهُوَ عَلَى قِسْمَةِ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ وَمَا كَانَ مِنْ مِيرَاثٍ أَدْرَكَهُ الإِسْلاَمُ فَهُوَ عَلَى قِسْمَةِ الإِسْلاَمِ ‏"

Narrated by Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar + 1 other version

Chapter 17Chapter: If a newborn cries, he is an heir

Weak No. 2750

“If the child has cired, the (funeral) prayer should be offered for him (if he dies) and he is an heir.”

"‏ إِذَا اسْتَهَلَّ الصَّبِيُّ صُلِّيَ عَلَيْهِ وَوَرِثَ ‏"

Narrated by Jābir ibn ‘Abdullāh + 3 other versions

Differing grades No. 2751

“No child inherits until he raises his voice or cries.”

"‏ لاَ يَرِثُ الصَّبِيُّ حَتَّى يَسْتَهِلَّ صَارِخًا ‏"

Narrated by Al-Miswar ibn Makhrama

Chapter 18Chapter: A man who becomes Muslim at the hands of another

Differing grades No. 2752

“I heard Tamim Ad- Dari say: ‘I said: O Messenger of Allah, what is the Sunnah concerning a man from among the People of the Book who becomes a Muslim at the hands of another man?’ He said: ‘He is the closest of all people to him in life and in death.’”

"‏ هُوَ أَوْلَى النَّاسِ بِمَحْيَاهُ وَمَمَاتِهِ ‏"

Narrated by Tamīm ad-Dāri + 6 other versions