Give the prescribed shares (of inheritance) to those who are entitled to them, and whatever remains goes to the nearest male relative

Arabic text

عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «أَلْحِقُوا الفَرَائِضَ بِأَهْلِهَا، فَمَا بَقِيَ فَلِأَوْلَى رَجُلٍ ذَكَرٍ».

Translation

Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Give the prescribed shares (of inheritance) to those who are entitled to them, and whatever remains goes to the nearest male relative."

Explanation

The Prophet (ﷺ) commands those who are in charge of dividing the inheritance to distribute it fairly among its rightful beneficiaries, according to the Shariah rules, as Allah Almighty willed. Those who are entitled to prescribed shares of the inheritance should be given their shares that are set for them in the Qur’an, which are: two-thirds, one-third, one-sixth, one-half, one-quarter, and one-eighth. Whatever remains after that should be given to the closest male relatives, who are called ‘Asabah (male relatives by agnation).

Benefits

• The Hadīth represents a rule in the division of inheritance.
• The distribution of the fixed shares of inheritance begins with those who are entitled to the prescribed portions.
• What remains after distributing the prescribed shares should be given to the agnates.
• Inheritance should be given to the closer agnates and then the next in closeness. A distant agnate, like the uncle, may not receive inheritance while a closer agnate, like the father, is present.
• Agnates are entitled to nothing if the prescribed shares consume all the inheritance, leaving nothing behind.

Topics

• Jurisprudence and Juristic Principles
• Religious Obligations
• Agnates