سُوْرَةُ النِّسَآءِ
Surah An-Nisaa (4) — Ayah 12
۞ وَلَكُمْ نِصْفُ مَا تَرَكَ أَزْوَٰجُكُمْ إِن لَّمْ يَكُن لَّهُنَّ وَلَدٌ ۚ فَإِن كَانَ لَهُنَّ وَلَدٌ فَلَكُمُ ٱلرُّبُعُ مِمَّا تَرَكْنَ ۚ مِنۢ بَعْدِ وَصِيَّةٍ يُوصِينَ بِهَآ أَوْ دَيْنٍ ۚ وَلَهُنَّ ٱلرُّبُعُ مِمَّا تَرَكْتُمْ إِن لَّمْ يَكُن لَّكُمْ وَلَدٌ ۚ فَإِن كَانَ لَكُمْ وَلَدٌ فَلَهُنَّ ٱلثُّمُنُ مِمَّا تَرَكْتُم ۚ مِّنۢ بَعْدِ وَصِيَّةٍ تُوصُونَ بِهَآ أَوْ دَيْنٍ ۗ وَإِن كَانَ رَجُلٌ يُورَثُ كَلَـٰلَةً أَوِ ٱمْرَأَةٌ وَلَهُۥٓ أَخٌ أَوْ أُخْتٌ فَلِكُلِّ وَٰحِدٍ مِّنْهُمَا ٱلسُّدُسُ ۚ فَإِن كَانُوٓا۟ أَكْثَرَ مِن ذَٰلِكَ فَهُمْ شُرَكَآءُ فِى ٱلثُّلُثِ ۚ مِنۢ بَعْدِ وَصِيَّةٍ يُوصَىٰ بِهَآ أَوْ دَيْنٍ غَيْرَ مُضَآرٍّ ۚ وَصِيَّةً مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَلِيمٌ ﴿12﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
In that which your wives leave, your share is a half if they have no child; but if they leave a child, you get a fourth of that which they leave after payment of legacies that they may have bequeathed or debts. In that which you leave, their (your wives) share is a fourth if you leave no child; but if you leave a child, they get an eighth of that which you leave after payment of legacies that you may have bequeathed or debts. If the man or woman whose inheritance is in question has left neither ascendants nor descendants, but has left a brother or a sister, each one of the two gets a sixth; but if more than two, they share in a third, after payment of legacies he (or she) may have bequeathed or debts, so that no loss is caused (to anyone). This is a Commandment from Allâh; and Allâh is Ever All-Knowing, Most-Forbearing.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
۞ وَلَكُمْ
walakum
And for you
نِصْفُ
niṣ'fu
(is) half
مَا
mā
(of) what
تَرَكَ
taraka
(is) left
أَزْوَٰجُكُمْ
azwājukum
by your wives
إِن
in
if
لَّمْ
lam
not
يَكُن
yakun
is
لَّهُنَّ
lahunna
for them
وَلَدٌۭ ۚ
waladun
a child
فَإِن
fa-in
But if
كَانَ
kāna
is
لَهُنَّ
lahunna
for them
وَلَدٌۭ
waladun
a child
فَلَكُمُ
falakumu
then for you
ٱلرُّبُعُ
l-rubuʿu
(is) the fourth
مِمَّا
mimmā
of what
تَرَكْنَ ۚ
tarakna
they left
مِنۢ
min
from
بَعْدِ
baʿdi
after
وَصِيَّةٍۢ
waṣiyyatin
any will
يُوصِينَ
yūṣīna
they have made
بِهَآ
bihā
[for which]
أَوْ
aw
or
دَيْنٍۢ ۚ
daynin
any debt
وَلَهُنَّ
walahunna
And for them
ٱلرُّبُعُ
l-rubuʿu
(is) the fourth
مِمَّا
mimmā
of what
تَرَكْتُمْ
taraktum
you left
إِن
in
if
لَّمْ
lam
not
يَكُن
yakun
is
لَّكُمْ
lakum
for you
وَلَدٌۭ ۚ
waladun
a child
فَإِن
fa-in
But if
كَانَ
kāna
is
لَكُمْ
lakum
for you
وَلَدٌۭ
waladun
a child
فَلَهُنَّ
falahunna
then for them
ٱلثُّمُنُ
l-thumunu
(is) the eighth
مِمَّا
mimmā
of what
تَرَكْتُم ۚ
taraktum
you left
مِّنۢ
min
from
بَعْدِ
baʿdi
after
وَصِيَّةٍۢ
waṣiyyatin
any will
تُوصُونَ
tūṣūna
you have made
بِهَآ
bihā
[for which]
أَوْ
aw
or
دَيْنٍۢ ۗ
daynin
any debt
وَإِن
wa-in
And if
كَانَ
kāna
[is]
رَجُلٌۭ
rajulun
a man
يُورَثُ
yūrathu
(whose wealth) is to be inherited
كَلَـٰلَةً
kalālatan
(has) no parent or child
أَوِ
awi
or
ٱمْرَأَةٌۭ
im'ra-atun
a women
وَلَهُۥٓ
walahu
and for him
أَخٌ
akhun
(is) a brother
أَوْ
aw
or
أُخْتٌۭ
ukh'tun
a sister
فَلِكُلِّ
falikulli
then for each
وَٰحِدٍۢ
wāḥidin
one
مِّنْهُمَا
min'humā
of (the) two
ٱلسُّدُسُ ۚ
l-sudusu
(is) the sixth
فَإِن
fa-in
But if
كَانُوٓا۟
kānū
they are
أَكْثَرَ
akthara
more
مِن
min
than
ذَٰلِكَ
dhālika
that
فَهُمْ
fahum
then they
شُرَكَآءُ
shurakāu
(are) partners
فِى
fī
in
ٱلثُّلُثِ ۚ
l-thuluthi
the third
مِنۢ
min
from
بَعْدِ
baʿdi
after
وَصِيَّةٍۢ
waṣiyyatin
any will
يُوصَىٰ
yūṣā
was made
بِهَآ
bihā
[for which]
أَوْ
aw
or
دَيْنٍ
daynin
any debt
غَيْرَ
ghayra
without
مُضَآرٍّۢ ۚ
muḍārrin
(being) harmful
وَصِيَّةًۭ
waṣiyyatan
An ordinance
مِّنَ
mina
from
ٱللَّهِ ۗ
l-lahi
Allah
وَٱللَّهُ
wal-lahu
And Allah
عَلِيمٌ
ʿalīmun
(is) All-Knowing
حَلِيمٌۭ
ḥalīmun
All-Forbearing
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.
12. 1 In the absence of children, the children of the son, i.e., grandsons, are also considered as children; there is consensus of the scholars of the Ummah on this (Fath al-Qadeer, Ibn Kathir). Similarly, the children of the deceased husband, whether from the current wife who is inheriting or from another wife. Likewise, the children of the deceased woman, whether from the current husband who is inheriting or from a previous husband.
12. 2 If there is only one wife, she will receive a fourth or an eighth share; if there are more, then this share will be divided among them. Each one will not receive a fourth or an eighth share individually. This is also a consensus issue (Fath al-Qadeer).
12. 3 Kalah refers to the deceased who has neither a father nor a son. It is derived from "akleel," which refers to something that surrounds the head from its sides and is considered an heir (Fath al-Qadeer and Ibn Kathir). It is also said that Kalah is derived from "kallal," which means to become tired. As if the chain of lineage and ancestry became tired upon reaching this person and could not continue further.
12. 4 By this are meant maternal siblings whose mother is the same but fathers are different, because full siblings or paternal siblings do not have a share in inheritance in this way, and its explanation is coming at the end of this Surah. This issue is also a consensus (Fath al-Qadeer). In reality, for lineage, the law regarding males and females (ۤ لِلذَّكَرِ مِثْلُ حَظِّ الْاُنْثَيَيْنِ) 4:11 applies. That is why for sons and daughters at this place, and for siblings in the last verse of Surah Nisa, the same law applies in both places. However, since the children of only the mother the paternal lineage is not a factor, each one is given an equal share there. In any case, in the case of one brother or one sister, each will receive a sixth share.
12. 5 In the case of more than one, all will share in one third, and there will be no distinction between male and female. All will receive an equal share, whether male or female.
12. 6 Along with stating the laws of inheritance, it is being said for the third time that the distribution of inheritance should be done after executing the will and paying off debts, from which it is understood how important it is to act upon these two matters. Then, it is also agreed upon that debts should be paid off first, and the will should be executed after that. However, Allah has mentioned the will before the debt in all three places, even though in order of priority, the debt should be mentioned first. The wisdom in this is that people do not give importance to paying off debts, and even if they do not, the creditors forcibly recover them, but acting upon the will is considered unnecessary, and most people are negligent or careless in this matter. Therefore, by mentioning the will first, its importance has been clarified (Ruh al-Ma'ani).
12. 7 In this way, if someone is deprived of inheritance through a will, or someone's share is reduced or increased, or just to harm the heirs, he says that such and such person has lent me such an amount, even though nothing has been taken, then the declaration relates to both the will and the debt, and causing harm through both is forbidden and a major sin. Such a will is also invalid.
12. 2 If there is only one wife, she will receive a fourth or an eighth share; if there are more, then this share will be divided among them. Each one will not receive a fourth or an eighth share individually. This is also a consensus issue (Fath al-Qadeer).
12. 3 Kalah refers to the deceased who has neither a father nor a son. It is derived from "akleel," which refers to something that surrounds the head from its sides and is considered an heir (Fath al-Qadeer and Ibn Kathir). It is also said that Kalah is derived from "kallal," which means to become tired. As if the chain of lineage and ancestry became tired upon reaching this person and could not continue further.
12. 4 By this are meant maternal siblings whose mother is the same but fathers are different, because full siblings or paternal siblings do not have a share in inheritance in this way, and its explanation is coming at the end of this Surah. This issue is also a consensus (Fath al-Qadeer). In reality, for lineage, the law regarding males and females (ۤ لِلذَّكَرِ مِثْلُ حَظِّ الْاُنْثَيَيْنِ) 4:11 applies. That is why for sons and daughters at this place, and for siblings in the last verse of Surah Nisa, the same law applies in both places. However, since the children of only the mother the paternal lineage is not a factor, each one is given an equal share there. In any case, in the case of one brother or one sister, each will receive a sixth share.
12. 5 In the case of more than one, all will share in one third, and there will be no distinction between male and female. All will receive an equal share, whether male or female.
12. 6 Along with stating the laws of inheritance, it is being said for the third time that the distribution of inheritance should be done after executing the will and paying off debts, from which it is understood how important it is to act upon these two matters. Then, it is also agreed upon that debts should be paid off first, and the will should be executed after that. However, Allah has mentioned the will before the debt in all three places, even though in order of priority, the debt should be mentioned first. The wisdom in this is that people do not give importance to paying off debts, and even if they do not, the creditors forcibly recover them, but acting upon the will is considered unnecessary, and most people are negligent or careless in this matter. Therefore, by mentioning the will first, its importance has been clarified (Ruh al-Ma'ani).
12. 7 In this way, if someone is deprived of inheritance through a will, or someone's share is reduced or increased, or just to harm the heirs, he says that such and such person has lent me such an amount, even though nothing has been taken, then the declaration relates to both the will and the debt, and causing harm through both is forbidden and a major sin. Such a will is also invalid.
