Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

Ubaid bin Nazeelah narrates that Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) and Hazrat Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him), while being brothers, used to distribute the grandfather’s share, and would give him that portion of wealth which was better for him from among the sixth share and the partnership with the brothers’ share. Then Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) wrote to Hazrat Abdullah that I think we have made the grandfather destitute, so when this letter of mine reaches you, make him a partner in the distribution with the brothers, in such a way that he is given one third of the wealth and, from the partnership in the distribution, whichever is better for him. Hazrat Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) accepted this.

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).”

Abdullah bin Salamah says that Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) used to include the grandfather with the brothers up to one-sixth of the total wealth.

Shu'bi narrates that a case involving six brothers and a grandfather was brought to Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), so he gave the grandfather one-sixth of the wealth.

Shu'bi says that Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) wrote to Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) asking how inheritance should be distributed in the presence of six brothers and a grandfather. He replied that the grandfather should be considered as one of the brothers, and erase my letter.

Ibrahim says that Hazrat Zaid (may Allah be pleased with him) used to include the grandfather with the brothers and would give him one third of the wealth.

Ibrahim narrates that Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) and Hazrat Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) included the grandfather with the brothers and gave him one third of the wealth.

Ibrahim narrates that Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) used to include the grandfather with the brothers and would give him one-sixth of the wealth.

Ibrahim narrates that Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) wrote to Hazrat Abdullah bin Masood (may Allah be pleased with him) that I fear we have rendered the grandfather destitute, so include him with the brothers or give him one third of the wealth.

Hasan narrates that Hazrat Zaid (may Allah be pleased with him) used to say that the grandfather will participate in the division of wealth with one or two brothers, and when there are three brothers, he will be given one-third of the entire wealth, and if there are several shares, it will be considered: if one-third of the wealth is better for him, then it will be given to him, and if participation with the brothers is better, then he will be included as a participant, and his share will not be less than one-sixth of the wealth.

Ibrahim states that Hazrat Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) and Hazrat Zaid (may Allah be pleased with him) used to allocate one-third of the wealth for the grandfather and two-thirds for the brothers. And in the case where a man dies leaving behind his real brothers, two real sisters, and a grandfather, Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) used to divide the wealth into six parts, giving the grandfather one-sixth, and Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) would not reduce the grandfather’s share to less than one-sixth in the presence of brothers. The remaining wealth would be distributed according to the rule that a male receives twice the share of a female. And Hazrat Abdullah and Hazrat Zaid (may Allah be pleased with them) used to give the grandfather one-third of the wealth and the brothers two-thirds, according to the rule that a male receives twice the share of a female. And regarding the case of five brothers and one grandfather, Ibrahim said that according to Hazrat Ali’s (may Allah be pleased with him) opinion, the grandfather receives one-sixth of the wealth and the brothers the remaining five parts, while Hazrat Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) and Zaid (may Allah be pleased with him) used to give the grandfather one-third of the wealth and the brothers two-thirds.

Hazrat Masruq narrates that Hazrat Ibn Masud (may Allah be pleased with him) would not give the grandfather more than one-sixth of the wealth in the presence of brothers. He says that I told him that I had seen Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) giving one-third of the wealth to the grandfather in the presence of brothers, so he (Ibn Masud) started giving one-third of the wealth (to the grandfather).

Hazrat Abdur Rahman bin Ghanm says that in Islam, the first grandfather who was made an heir was Umar bin Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him). He intended to take all the wealth. I said, "O Commander of the Faithful! The grandsons are an obstacle for you." Hazrat Abu Bakr says that this issue will be resolved in three parts according to the statements of Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), Hazrat Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him), and Hazrat Zaid (may Allah be pleased with him): one third of the wealth will be for the grandfather and the rest for the brothers. And according to the statement of Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), it will be resolved in six parts: one sixth for the grandfather and the remaining five parts for the brothers.