Reports on teaching the law of inheritance

Abu al-Ahwas said that Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) stated: Whoever has acquired knowledge of the Qur'an should also acquire knowledge of the shares of inheritance (fara'id), and should not become like the man who was met by a Bedouin who asked him: "O servant of Allah! Are you a Muhajir?" He said: "Yes!" He asked: "One of my family has died and has left such and such." If he knows the answer, then that is knowledge given by Allah Almighty; and if he does not know it, the Bedouin says: "O company of Muhajirun! In what then are you superior to us?"

The same is also reported from Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) through another chain.

Ibrahim said that Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) stated: Acquire the knowledge of inheritance, for inheritance is a part of your religion.

It is reported from Salih Abu al-Khalil that Sayyiduna Abu Musa (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The likeness of a man who recites the Qur'an but does not know the science of inheritance is that of someone who has two hands but no head.

It is reported from Abdullah bin Qays that Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: Whoever recites Surah al-Nisa and comes to know which things are an obstacle in inheritance and which are not, that person has acquired the knowledge of inheritance.

It is reported from Muslim that Masruq was asked: "Did Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) know the science of inheritance?" He said: "By the One in Whose hand is my soul, I have seen the great elders among the Companions asking her questions about inheritance."

It is reported from Hisham that his honoured father said: I have not found anyone with more knowledge of inheritance, fiqh and poetry than Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her).

It is narrated from Ulayy bin Rabah that Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) addressed the people at al-Jabiyah. After praising and glorifying Allah, he said: "Whoever wishes to ask about the Qur'an, let him come to Sayyiduna Ubayy bin Ka'b (may Allah be pleased with him), and whoever wishes to ask about the inheritance shares (the science of inheritance), let him come to Sayyiduna Zayd bin Thabit (may Allah be pleased with him)."

Al-Qasim bin Abd al-Rahman said that Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Acquire knowledge of the Qur'an and of inheritance, for the time is near when a man will be in need of knowledge he used to know, or will remain among a people who do not know it."

It is narrated from Sulayman bin Musa that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whoever contravenes an inheritance share that Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, has made obligatory in His Book, Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, will abolish his inheritance in Paradise."

Amr bin Maymun said: When the Companions differed concerning inheritance, they would come to Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her), and she would inform them on the matter.

Ibrahim said: I said to Alqamah: "Teach me the science of inheritance shares." He said: "Go to your neighbours."

Muwarriq said that Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Acquire knowledge of dialects, inheritance and hadith, just as you acquire knowledge of the Noble Qur'an."