the approach followed by the specialists in inheritance law. They mention the prescribed shares and those entitled to them, saying, for example, “Five persons inherit one-half,” and then list them. This scatters the student’s attention. The jurists, however, have adopted another approach: they mention the individual and then explain his circumstances of inheritance. The jurists’ presentation accords with the Quran, for it mentions the heir and then explains his circumstances.

“The husband receives one-half; but in the presence of a child, or a son’s child no matter how far removed, he receives one-quarter. A wife, or multiple wives, receive half of these two shares.”

His statement, “The husband receives one-half; but in the presence of a child, or a son’s child no matter how far removed, he receives one-quarter”: the husband’s inheritance is limited to one-half or one-quarter; there is no third possibility. If there is an inheriting descendant, he receives one-quarter; if there is none, he receives one-half, as Allah, Exalted is He, says:

“And for you is half of what your wives leave if they have no child. But if they have a child, then for you is one-quarter of what they leave.” [Quran 4:12]

The verse is clear and explicit. Thus, if a woman dies leaving a husband and a full brother, the husband receives one-half, due to the absence of an inheriting descendant.

If a woman dies leaving a husband and a son’s son, the husband receives one-quarter, due to the presence of an inheriting descendant.

If a woman dies leaving a husband and a daughter’s son, the husband receives one-half, because this descendant does not inherit.

His statement, “A wife, or multiple wives, receive half of these two shares”: a person may die leaving one wife, two wives, three wives, or four. Thus, one wife is like four wives: they receive “half of his two shares,” meaning half of the husband’s shares “in both cases,” that is, in the two circumstances. For example, if a husband dies and has inheriting descendants—children or sons’ children—his wife receives one-eighth; and two, three, or four wives