Regarding the Wala' (Allegiance) That Women Inherit—What Is Its Reality?

Ibrahim narrates from Hazrat Ali, Umar, and Zaid (may Allah be pleased with them) that they used to make only that woman the heir of her wala’ whom she had set free.

Ibn Sirin says that women inherit the right of wala only from those whom they set free.

Ibrahim says that women inherit the right of allegiance only from those whom they make mukatab (contracted slaves) or whom they set free, or from those freed by their freed ones.

Hasan says that women inherit the wala only of the one whom they set free, or of the one whom their freed slave sets free, except for the woman involved in li'an, for she inherits from the one whose lineage her father denies.

Umar bin Abdul Aziz says that women inherit the right of wala only from those whom they make mukatab or set free.

Ata says that women do not inherit anything from wala except for those whom they make mukatab or set free.

Khalid narrates from Abu Qilabah about the woman who died and left her mawla; he said that he is her mawla, and when he dies, his heir will be every man among those who would have been the heir of that woman.

Saeed bin Musayyib says that women inherit only that wala’ (right of inheritance) from those whom they set free or make mukatab (contracted for freedom).

Ibrahim, through another chain of narration, states that women inherit only the wala’ of those whom they set free.

Ibrahim says about the man who makes his slave a mukatab and then dies, leaving behind male and female children, that the wealth will be divided among them according to their shares, and the wala’ will be for the men, not for the women.

Abu Salamah and Sa'id bin al-Musayyib say regarding a man who makes his slave a mukatab (contracted for freedom) and then dies, leaving behind male and female children, that the wealth will be divided among them according to their shares, and the wala' (right of inheritance from the freed slave) will be for the men, not for the women.

Muammar narrates from Zuhri that a woman freed Salim, so he established a bond of allegiance (wala’) with Abu Hudhaifah (may Allah be pleased with him), and he adopted him as his son. Then Salim passed away, and his inheritance was given to that woman.