Surah An-Nisa — Verse 11
The Women · 4:11 · 11/176
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
Yooseekumu Allahu fee awladikumliththakari mithlu haththialonthayayni fa-in kunna nisaan fawqa ithnatayni falahunnathulutha ma taraka wa-in kanat wahidatanfalaha annisfu wali-abawayhi likulli wahidinminhuma assudusu mimma taraka in kanalahu waladun fa-in lam yakun lahu waladun wawarithahu abawahufali-ommihi aththuluthu fa-in kana lahu ikhwatunfali-ommihi assudusu min baAAdi wasiyyatin yooseebiha aw daynin abaokum waabnaokum latadroona ayyuhum aqrabu lakum nafAAan fareedatan mina Allahiinna Allaha kana AAaleeman hakeema
Translations of this verse 7
Saheeh International
Allāh instructs you concerning your children [i.e., their portions of inheritance]: for the male, what is equal to the share of two females. But if there are [only] daughters, two or more, for them is two thirds of one's estate. And if there is only one, for her is half. And for one's parents, to each one of them is a sixth of his estate if he left children. But if he had no children and the parents [alone] inherit from him, then for his mother is one third. And if he had brothers [and/or sisters], for his mother is a sixth, after any bequest he [may have] made or debt. Your parents or your children - you know not which of them are nearest to you in benefit. [These shares are] an obligation [imposed] by Allāh. Indeed, Allāh is ever Knowing and Wise.
M.A.S. Abdel Haleem
Concerning your children, God commands you that a son should have the equivalent share of two daughters. If there are only daughters, two or more should share two-thirds of the inheritance, if one, she should have half. Parents inherit a sixth each if the deceased leaves children; if he leaves no children and his parents are his sole heirs, his mother has a third, unless he has brothers, in which case she has a sixth. [In all cases, the distribution comes] after payment of any bequests or debts. You cannot know which of your parents or your children is more beneficial to you: this is a law from God, and He is all knowing, all wise.
Marmaduke Pickthall
Allah chargeth you concerning (the provision for) your children: to the male the equivalent of the portion of two females, and if there be women more than two, then theirs is two-thirds of the inheritance, and if there be one (only) then the half. And to each of his parents a sixth of the inheritance, if he have a son; and if he have no son and his parents are his heirs, then to his mother appertaineth the third; and if he have brethren, then to his mother appertaineth the sixth, after any legacy he may have bequeathed, or debt (hath been paid). Your parents and your children: Ye know not which of them is nearer unto you in usefulness. It is an injunction from Allah. Lo! Allah is Knower, Wise.
Abdullah Yusuf Ali
Allah (thus) directs you as regards your Children's (Inheritance): to the male, a portion equal to that of two females: if 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 the 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 ('s) after the payment of legacies and debts. Ye know not whether your parents or your children are nearest to you in benefit. These are settled portions ordained by Allah; and Allah is All-knowing, Al-wise.
Mufti Taqi Usmani
Allah directs you concerning your children: for a male there is a share equal to that of two females. But, if they are (only) women, more than two, then they get two-thirds of what one leaves behind. If she is one, she gets one-half. As for his parents, for each of them, there is one-sixth of what he leaves in case he has a child. But, if he has no child and his parents have inherited him, then his mother gets one-third. If he has some brothers (or sisters), his mother gets one-sixth, all after (settling) the will he might have made, or a debt. You do not know who, out of your fathers and your sons, is closer to you in benefiting (you). All this is determined by Allah. Surely, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.
Al-Hilali & Khan
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.
Abul A'la Maududi (Tafhim)
Allah thus commands you concerning your children: the share of the male is like that of two females. If (the heirs of the deceased are) more than two daughters, they shall have two-thirds of the inheritance; and if there is only one daughter, then she shall have half the inheritance. If the deceased has any offspring, each of his parents shall have a sixth of the inheritance; and if the deceased has no child and his parents alone inherit him, then one-third shall go to his mother; and if the deceased has brothers and sisters, then one-sixth shall go to his mother. All these shares are to be given after payment of the bequest he might have made or any debts outstanding against him. You do not know which of them, your parents or your children, are more beneficial to you. But these portions have been determined by Allah, for He indeed knows all, is cognizant of all beneficent considerations.
Reason for Revelation Asbāb al-Nuzūl
Arabic source: al-Wāḥidī / al-Suyūṭī, via Tafsir Center for Quranic Studies (CC BY 4.0)
قال تعالى: {يُوصِيكُمُ اللَّهُ فِي أَوْلَادِكُمْ لِلذَّكَرِ مِثْلُ حَظِّ الْأُنْثَيَيْنِ فَإِنْ كُنَّ نِسَاءً فَوْقَ اثْنَتَيْنِ فَلَهُنَّ ثُلُثَا مَا تَرَكَ وَإِنْ كَانَتْ وَاحِدَةً فَلَهَا النِّصْفُ وَلِأَبَوَيْهِ لِكُلِّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمَا السُّدُسُ مِمَّا تَرَكَ إِنْ كَانَ لَهُ وَلَدٌ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ وَلَدٌ وَوَرِثَهُ أَبَوَاهُ فَلِأُمِّهِ الثُّلُثُ فَإِنْ كَانَ لَهُ إِخْوَةٌ فَلِأُمِّهِ السُّدُسُ مِنْ بَعْدِ وَصِيَّةٍ يُوصِي بِهَا أَوْ دَيْنٍ آبَاؤُكُمْ وَأَبْنَاؤُكُمْ لَا تَدْرُونَ أَيُّهُمْ أَقْرَبُ لَكُمْ نَفْعًا فَرِيضَةً مِنَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا (11)} [النساء: 11].
98 - عَنْ جَابِرٍ - رضي الله عنه - قَالَ: عَادَنِي النَّبِيُّ - صلى الله عليه وسلم - وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ فِي بَنِي سَلِمَةَ مَاشِيَيْنِ، فَوَجَدَنِي النَّبِيُّ - صلى الله عليه وسلم - لَا أَعْقِلُ شَيْئاً، فَدَعَا بِمَاءٍ فَتَوَضَّأَ مِنْهُ، ثُمَّ رَشَّ عَلَيَّ فَأَفَقْتُ، فَقُلْتُ: مَا تَأْمُرُنِي أَنْ أَصْنَعَ فِي مَالِي يَا رَسُولَ اللّهِ؟ فَنَزَلَتْ {يُوصِيكُمُ اللَّهُ فِي أَوْلَادِكُمْ} ¬أخرجه البخاري برقم: 194، 4577، 5651، 5676، 6723، 6743، 7309، ومسلم برقم: 1616، والترمذي برقم: 2096، 2097، 3015، والنسائي برقم: 138، والكبرى برقم: 7498، 7512، 9321، وأبو داود برقم: 2886، 2887، 3096، وابن ماجه برقم: 958، وابن حبان برقم: 1266، والحميدي برقم: 1229، والدارمي: 1/ 203، والطيالسي برقم: 1742، وعبد بن حميد برقم: 1064، والبيهقي في السنن: 6/ 212، 6/ 231، والحاكم: 2/ 303، والواحدي في أسباب النزول: ص 144 - 145، وزاد السيوطي في الدر: 2/ 124 - 125 لعبد بن حميد وابن المنذر وابن أبي حاتم.¥.
99 - وللآية سبب آخر للنزول: عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللهِ -رضي الله عنهما- قَالَ: جَاءَتِ امْرَأَةُ سَعْدِ بْنِ الرَّبِيعِ بِابْنَتَيْهَا مِنْ سَعْدٍ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللّهِ - صلى الله عليه وسلم -، فَقَالَتْ: يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ، هَاتَانِ ابْنَتَا سَعْدِ بْنِ الرَّبِيعِ، قُتِلَ أَبُوهُمَا مَعَكَ يَوْمَ أُحُدٍ شَهِيداً، وَإِنَّ عَمَّهُمَا أَخَذَ مَالَهُمَا فَلَمْ يَدَعْ لَهُمَا مَالًا، وَلَا تُنْكَحَانِ إِلَّا وَلَهُمَا مَالٌ؟ قَالَ: "يَقْضِي اللّهُ فِي ذَلِكَ ". فَنَزَلَتْ آيَةُ الْمِيرَاثِ، فَبَعَثَ رَسُولُ الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - إِلَى عَفهِمَا فَقَالَ: "أَعْطِ ابْنَتَي سَعْدٍ الثلُثَيْنِ، وَأَعْطِ أُمَّهُمَا الثُمُنَ، وَمَا بَقِيَ فَهُوَ لَكَ". واللفظ للترمذي ¬أخرجه الترمذي برقم: 2092، وأبو داود برقم: 2891، 2892، وابن ماجه برقم: 2720، والحاكم: 4/ 334، والدارقطني في السنن: 4/ 78، وأبو يعلى برقم: 2039، والبيهقي في السنن: 6/ 229، والواحدي في أسباب النزول: ص 145 - 146، وصححه الترمذي والحاكم ووافقه الذهبي، وهو حديث حسن. وزاد السيوطي عزوه في الدر: لابن سعد وابن أبي شية ومسدد والطيالسي وابن أبي عمر وابن أبي أسامة وابن أبي حاتم.¥.