سُوْرَةُ النِّسَآءِ
Surah An-Nisaa (4) — Ayah 11
يُوصِيكُمُ ٱللَّهُ فِىٓ أَوْلَـٰدِكُمْ ۖ لِلذَّكَرِ مِثْلُ حَظِّ ٱلْأُنثَيَيْنِ ۚ فَإِن كُنَّ نِسَآءً فَوْقَ ٱثْنَتَيْنِ فَلَهُنَّ ثُلُثَا مَا تَرَكَ ۖ وَإِن كَانَتْ وَٰحِدَةً فَلَهَا ٱلنِّصْفُ ۚ وَلِأَبَوَيْهِ لِكُلِّ وَٰحِدٍ مِّنْهُمَا ٱلسُّدُسُ مِمَّا تَرَكَ إِن كَانَ لَهُۥ وَلَدٌ ۚ فَإِن لَّمْ يَكُن لَّهُۥ وَلَدٌ وَوَرِثَهُۥٓ أَبَوَاهُ فَلِأُمِّهِ ٱلثُّلُثُ ۚ فَإِن كَانَ لَهُۥٓ إِخْوَةٌ فَلِأُمِّهِ ٱلسُّدُسُ ۚ مِنۢ بَعْدِ وَصِيَّةٍ يُوصِى بِهَآ أَوْ دَيْنٍ ۗ ءَابَآؤُكُمْ وَأَبْنَآؤُكُمْ لَا تَدْرُونَ أَيُّهُمْ أَقْرَبُ لَكُمْ نَفْعًا ۚ فَرِيضَةً مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا ﴿11﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Allâh commands you as regards your children’s (inheritance): to the male, a portion equal to that of two females; if (there are) only daughters, two or more, their share is two-thirds of the inheritance; if only one, her share is a half. For parents, a sixth share of inheritance to each if the deceased left children; if no children, and the parents are the (only) heirs, the mother has a third; if the deceased left brothers (or sisters), the mother has a sixth. (The distribution in all cases is) after the payment of legacies he may have bequeathed or debts. You know not which of them, whether your parents or your children, are nearest to you in benefit; (these fixed shares) are ordained by Allâh. And Allâh is Ever All-Knower, All-Wise.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
يُوصِيكُمُ
yūṣīkumu
Instructs you
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah
فِىٓ
fī
concerning
أَوْلَـٰدِكُمْ ۖ
awlādikum
your children
لِلذَّكَرِ
lildhakari
for the male
مِثْلُ
mith'lu
like
حَظِّ
ḥaẓẓi
(the) portion
ٱلْأُنثَيَيْنِ ۚ
l-unthayayni
(of) two females
فَإِن
fa-in
But if
كُنَّ
kunna
there are
نِسَآءًۭ
nisāan
(only) women
فَوْقَ
fawqa
more (than)
ٱثْنَتَيْنِ
ith'natayni
two
فَلَهُنَّ
falahunna
then for them
ثُلُثَا
thuluthā
two thirds
مَا
mā
(of) what
تَرَكَ ۖ
taraka
he left
وَإِن
wa-in
And if
كَانَتْ
kānat
(there) is
وَٰحِدَةًۭ
wāḥidatan
(only) one
فَلَهَا
falahā
then for her
ٱلنِّصْفُ ۚ
l-niṣ'fu
(is) half
وَلِأَبَوَيْهِ
wali-abawayhi
And for his parents
لِكُلِّ
likulli
for each
وَٰحِدٍۢ
wāḥidin
one
مِّنْهُمَا
min'humā
of them
ٱلسُّدُسُ
l-sudusu
a sixth
مِمَّا
mimmā
of what
تَرَكَ
taraka
(is) left
إِن
in
if
كَانَ
kāna
is
لَهُۥ
lahu
for him
وَلَدٌۭ ۚ
waladun
a child
فَإِن
fa-in
But if
لَّمْ
lam
not
يَكُن
yakun
is
لَّهُۥ
lahu
for him
وَلَدٌۭ
waladun
any child
وَوَرِثَهُۥٓ
wawarithahu
and inherit[ed] him
أَبَوَاهُ
abawāhu
his parents
فَلِأُمِّهِ
fali-ummihi
then for his mother
ٱلثُّلُثُ ۚ
l-thuluthu
(is) one third
فَإِن
fa-in
And if
كَانَ
kāna
are
لَهُۥٓ
lahu
for him
إِخْوَةٌۭ
ikh'watun
brothers and sisters
فَلِأُمِّهِ
fali-ummihi
then for his mother
ٱلسُّدُسُ ۚ
l-sudusu
(is) the sixth
مِنۢ
min
from
بَعْدِ
baʿdi
after
وَصِيَّةٍۢ
waṣiyyatin
any will
يُوصِى
yūṣī
he has made
بِهَآ
bihā
[of which]
أَوْ
aw
or
دَيْنٍ ۗ
daynin
any debt
ءَابَآؤُكُمْ
ābāukum
Your parents
وَأَبْنَآؤُكُمْ
wa-abnāukum
and your children
لَا
lā
not
تَدْرُونَ
tadrūna
you know
أَيُّهُمْ
ayyuhum
which of them
أَقْرَبُ
aqrabu
(is) nearer
لَكُمْ
lakum
to you
نَفْعًۭا ۚ
nafʿan
(in) benefit
فَرِيضَةًۭ
farīḍatan
An obligation
مِّنَ
mina
from
ٱللَّهِ ۗ
l-lahi
Allah
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
كَانَ
kāna
is
عَلِيمًا
ʿalīman
All-Knowing
حَكِيمًۭا
ḥakīman
All-Wise
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan — Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
11. 1 If among the heirs there are both girls and boys, then the distribution will be according to this principle. Whether the boys are young or old, and similarly whether the girls are young or old, all will be heirs. Even (a child being nurtured in the mother's womb) will also be an heir. However, the children of a disbeliever will not be heirs.
11. 2 That is, if there is no son, then two-thirds of the wealth will be given to more than two girls, and if there are only two girls, even then they will be given two-thirds share. As it is mentioned in the hadith, Sa'd bin Rabi' ؓ was martyred in Uhud and he had two daughters. But Sa'd's brother took possession of all his wealth, so the Prophet ﷺ gave two-thirds of the wealth to those two girls from their uncle (Tirmidhi, Abu Dawood, Ibn Majah, Kitab al-Fara'id). Furthermore, at the end of Surah Nisa, it is stated that if the only heirs of a deceased are two sisters, then they also have a two-thirds share. Therefore, when two sisters will be heirs to two-thirds of the wealth, then two daughters will, with greater reason, be heirs to two-thirds of the wealth. Just as in the case of more than two sisters, they are included in the ruling of more than two daughters (Fath al-Qadeer). The summary is that whether there are two or more than two girls, in both cases, two-thirds of the estate will be the share of the girls. The remaining wealth will be distributed among the 'asaba.
11. 3 Three situations regarding the shares of the parents have been described. The first situation is that if the deceased has children, then each of the deceased's parents will receive one-sixth, and the remaining two-thirds of the wealth will be distributed among the children. If the deceased has only one daughter, then half of the wealth (i.e., out of six shares, three shares will be for the daughter, one-sixth for the mother, and one-sixth for the father), after giving one-sixth each to the mother and father, one-sixth will still remain. Therefore, this remaining one-sixth will go to the father as a residuary heir ('asaba). That is, in this case, the father will receive two-sixths: one as a father and the other as a residuary heir ('asaba).
11. 4 This is the second situation: if the deceased has no children (note that grandson and granddaughter are also included among children), in this case, the mother will receive one-third, and the remaining two shares (which are double the mother's share) will go to the father as 'asaba. And if, along with the parents, the deceased man's wife or the deceased woman's husband is also alive, then according to the preferred opinion, after deducting the share of the wife or husband (the details of which are coming), from the remaining wealth, one-third will be for the mother and the rest for the father.
11. 5 The third situation is that along with the parents, the deceased's brothers and sisters are alive. Those brothers, whether they are full siblings (i.e., from the same mother and father), or siblings from a different father (i.e., maternal siblings), then they will not be entitled to inheritance. But they will become a cause of reduction (hijb) for the mother, meaning when there are more than one, they will change the mother's share (of one-third) to one-sixth. The rest of the wealth (5/6) will go to the father, provided there is no other heir. Hafiz Ibn Kathir writes that according to the majority, the ruling for two brothers is the same as for more than two brothers as mentioned. This means that if there is only one brother or sister, then in that case, the mother's share in the wealth will remain one-third; it will not be changed to one-sixth. (Tafsir Ibn Kathir)
11. 6 Therefore, do not distribute inheritance according to your own understanding, but rather, according to Allah's command, give each their prescribed share.
11. 2 That is, if there is no son, then two-thirds of the wealth will be given to more than two girls, and if there are only two girls, even then they will be given two-thirds share. As it is mentioned in the hadith, Sa'd bin Rabi' ؓ was martyred in Uhud and he had two daughters. But Sa'd's brother took possession of all his wealth, so the Prophet ﷺ gave two-thirds of the wealth to those two girls from their uncle (Tirmidhi, Abu Dawood, Ibn Majah, Kitab al-Fara'id). Furthermore, at the end of Surah Nisa, it is stated that if the only heirs of a deceased are two sisters, then they also have a two-thirds share. Therefore, when two sisters will be heirs to two-thirds of the wealth, then two daughters will, with greater reason, be heirs to two-thirds of the wealth. Just as in the case of more than two sisters, they are included in the ruling of more than two daughters (Fath al-Qadeer). The summary is that whether there are two or more than two girls, in both cases, two-thirds of the estate will be the share of the girls. The remaining wealth will be distributed among the 'asaba.
11. 3 Three situations regarding the shares of the parents have been described. The first situation is that if the deceased has children, then each of the deceased's parents will receive one-sixth, and the remaining two-thirds of the wealth will be distributed among the children. If the deceased has only one daughter, then half of the wealth (i.e., out of six shares, three shares will be for the daughter, one-sixth for the mother, and one-sixth for the father), after giving one-sixth each to the mother and father, one-sixth will still remain. Therefore, this remaining one-sixth will go to the father as a residuary heir ('asaba). That is, in this case, the father will receive two-sixths: one as a father and the other as a residuary heir ('asaba).
11. 4 This is the second situation: if the deceased has no children (note that grandson and granddaughter are also included among children), in this case, the mother will receive one-third, and the remaining two shares (which are double the mother's share) will go to the father as 'asaba. And if, along with the parents, the deceased man's wife or the deceased woman's husband is also alive, then according to the preferred opinion, after deducting the share of the wife or husband (the details of which are coming), from the remaining wealth, one-third will be for the mother and the rest for the father.
11. 5 The third situation is that along with the parents, the deceased's brothers and sisters are alive. Those brothers, whether they are full siblings (i.e., from the same mother and father), or siblings from a different father (i.e., maternal siblings), then they will not be entitled to inheritance. But they will become a cause of reduction (hijb) for the mother, meaning when there are more than one, they will change the mother's share (of one-third) to one-sixth. The rest of the wealth (5/6) will go to the father, provided there is no other heir. Hafiz Ibn Kathir writes that according to the majority, the ruling for two brothers is the same as for more than two brothers as mentioned. This means that if there is only one brother or sister, then in that case, the mother's share in the wealth will remain one-third; it will not be changed to one-sixth. (Tafsir Ibn Kathir)
11. 6 Therefore, do not distribute inheritance according to your own understanding, but rather, according to Allah's command, give each their prescribed share.
