Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

Hazrat Alqamah narrates that Hazrat Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) used to include the grandfather with the brothers in inheritance, but when the brothers were many in number, he would give the grandfather one third of the wealth. The narrator Ibrahim says that when Alqamah passed away, I went to Hazrat Ubaidah, and he told me that Hazrat Ibn Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) used to include the grandfather with the brothers, and when the brothers were many, he would give the grandfather a share of the wealth. He says that after hearing this, I returned from him feeling heavy-hearted. Then I passed by Hazrat Ubaid bin Nuzailah, and he asked me, “What is the matter? Why do you seem downcast?” I said, “How could I not be, when such an incident has occurred?” Then I narrated the whole matter to him. He said, “Both of them have told you the truth.” I asked, “What about you? How have both of them spoken the truth?” He replied, “Hazrat Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) was of the opinion that the grandfather should be included with the brothers, and when they are many, the grandfather should be given one sixth of the wealth. Then he went to Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) and saw that he included the grandfather with the brothers, and when the brothers were many, he would give the grandfather one third of the wealth. So he abandoned his own opinion and began to act upon the opinion of Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him).”