themselves, and his wives are their mothers.” [al-Ahzab 33:6] Some of the early generations recited: “And he is a father to them.” (1) This is also what analogy requires: if his wives are their mothers, then he is their father—though not a father by lineage. Hence, the children of Ali ibn Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him, are honored by their lineage to the Messenger ﷺ; this is one of their distinctive merits.

However, this applies where an endowment is made in unrestricted terms. If contextual evidence indicates that the endower intended to include the children of daughters, or if he explicitly states this, then that is to be acted upon, in accordance with the condition stipulated by the endower.

Thus, if he says, “This is an endowment for my children, then for their children,” and he has only daughters, then the children of his daughters are included due to the contextual indication, since he has no sons. In this case, the inclusion of the children of daughters is necessary.

Likewise, if he says, “This is an endowment for my children, and the children of sons are to be given preference,” then they are included due to the contextual indication, for his statement, “the children of sons are to be given preference,” shows that he intended both the children of sons and the children of daughters.

If he says, “This is an endowment for my children, and whoever dies leaving a child, his share shall go to his child,” then they are included, because he explicitly says, “whoever dies leaving a child.” A daughter may die leaving children, so they are included and her share belongs to them.

And if he says, “This is an endowment for my children: the children of sons and the children of daughters,” then this is explicit. Therefore, the children of daughters are not included under the term “children” except through an explicit statement or a contextual indication. This is the governing principle.