Overview (Verse 176)

Final Words on Inheritance
 
They will ask you for a verdict. Say, God Himself gives you His ruling concerning [inheritance from] a person who leaves no heir in the direct line. If a man dies childless and has a sister, she shall inherit one-half of what he has left, just as he shall inherit all her [property] if she dies childless. But if there are two sisters, they shall both together have two-thirds of whatever he has left; and if there are brothers and sisters, then the male shall have the equal of two females’ share. God makes all this clear to you, lest you go astray; and God knows everything. (Verse 176)
 
Thus, this sūrah is concluded with a verse that relates to the family system and to social security which is provided within the family. This brings the sūrah’s conclusion in line with its beginning, when many of the rules of this social system were first explained. Here in conclusion, we have rules governing the inheritance of a person who is described as kalālah. This term, defined by Abū Bakr and all scholars, describes someone who has no parents and no children. In other words, he leaves no heir in the direct line of inheritance.
 
Some of the rules which relate to the estate of such a person were given very early in the sūrah defining the way his estate is distributed when he has no heirs on his father’s side but is inherited by heirs on his mother’s side. In this verse, the rest of the rules governing this form of inheritance are provided. If the deceased who has no heir in the direct line has a sister, whether by both of his parents or by his father only, she inherits half of what her brother leaves behind. In the case of her death, leaving behind no children and no parents, her brother takes all her property after the other heirs who have apportioned shares have taken their shares. If it happens that the deceased person has two sisters by both his parents or by his father only, they share together two-thirds of his property. If he has more brothers and sisters, then the general rule which gives a male twice the share of a female applies in the distribution of his estate. Brothers and sisters by both parents exclude brothers and sisters on the father’s side only when both types happen to survive the deceased person.
 
This verse, providing for the legislation of inheritance, is concluded with a comment that refers all matters to God alone and relates the regulation of duties and rights, financial or otherwise, to God’s law. “God makes all this clear to you lest you go astray; and God knows everything.”
 
“Everything” means all things, whether they relate to inheritance or to any other subject, within family relations or community relations. God provides legislations and laws and people have the choice of either following them in all matters or falling into error. The choice is simple: what mankind is offered is either to follow clear guidance or to go astray. God tells the truth, and He says: “What lies beyond the truth except error?”

Overview (Verse 176)

Final Words on Inheritance
 
They will ask you for a verdict. Say, God Himself gives you His ruling concerning [inheritance from] a person who leaves no heir in the direct line. If a man dies childless and has a sister, she shall inherit one-half of what he has left, just as he shall inherit all her [property] if she dies childless. But if there are two sisters, they shall both together have two-thirds of whatever he has left; and if there are brothers and sisters, then the male shall have the equal of two females’ share. God makes all this clear to you, lest you go astray; and God knows everything. (Verse 176)
 
Thus, this sūrah is concluded with a verse that relates to the family system and to social security which is provided within the family. This brings the sūrah’s conclusion in line with its beginning, when many of the rules of this social system were first explained. Here in conclusion, we have rules governing the inheritance of a person who is described as kalālah. This term, defined by Abū Bakr and all scholars, describes someone who has no parents and no children. In other words, he leaves no heir in the direct line of inheritance.
 
Some of the rules which relate to the estate of such a person were given very early in the sūrah defining the way his estate is distributed when he has no heirs on his father’s side but is inherited by heirs on his mother’s side. In this verse, the rest of the rules governing this form of inheritance are provided. If the deceased who has no heir in the direct line has a sister, whether by both of his parents or by his father only, she inherits half of what her brother leaves behind. In the case of her death, leaving behind no children and no parents, her brother takes all her property after the other heirs who have apportioned shares have taken their shares. If it happens that the deceased person has two sisters by both his parents or by his father only, they share together two-thirds of his property. If he has more brothers and sisters, then the general rule which gives a male twice the share of a female applies in the distribution of his estate. Brothers and sisters by both parents exclude brothers and sisters on the father’s side only when both types happen to survive the deceased person.
 
This verse, providing for the legislation of inheritance, is concluded with a comment that refers all matters to God alone and relates the regulation of duties and rights, financial or otherwise, to God’s law. “God makes all this clear to you lest you go astray; and God knows everything.”
 
“Everything” means all things, whether they relate to inheritance or to any other subject, within family relations or community relations. God provides legislations and laws and people have the choice of either following them in all matters or falling into error. The choice is simple: what mankind is offered is either to follow clear guidance or to go astray. God tells the truth, and He says: “What lies beyond the truth except error?”