Al-Sharḥ al-Mumtiʿ - Ibn al-'Uthaymin - (11/232)

Al-Sharḥ al-MumtiʿIbn al-'Uthaymin

So the man went to Ibn Masud and said: “He asked Abu Musa al-Ashari, who said: ‘The daughter receives one-half, and what remains goes to the sister,’ and he gave the son’s daughter nothing. He also said: ‘Go to Ibn Masud, and he will agree with me.’” Ibn Masud replied: “Then I would have gone astray and would not be among those rightly guided”—meaning, if I were to follow him, I would have gone astray—“and I shall rule in this matter according to the ruling of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him: the daughter receives one-half; the son’s daughter receives one-sixth, completing the two-thirds; and what remains goes to the sister.” (1)

This proves that, alongside a daughter, the son’s daughter receives one-sixth. The prescribed share does not increase with an increase in the number of son’s daughters, because it is not possible to exceed the two-thirds that Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, has assigned to two or more daughters.

His statement, “and two or more paternal half-sisters,” means two or more. Here he said, “two or more paternal half-sisters,” placing “or more” first; for had he placed “paternal” first and said, “paternal half-sisters, two or more,” it might give the impression that plurality relates to the father. If someone were to say, “This could not possibly be misleading,” we would reply: On the contrary, it could be, because the jurists hold that a person may have two fathers. For this reason, the author, may Allah have mercy on him, considered it preferable to place “or more” before his words, “paternal.”

His statement, “in the absence of a male agnatic heir in both cases,” means among the paternal half-sisters with the full sister, and among the son’s daughters with the daughter. If there is such a male agnatic heir, they inherit with him as residuary heirs.

If two-thirds are completed by daughters, or by the two of them, those below them are excluded, unless a male at their level or below them renders them residuary heirs. The same applies to paternal half-sisters alongside full sisters, unless their brother renders them residuary heirs.

His statement, “If two-thirds are completed by daughters, or by the two of them,” means the daughter and the son’s daughter.

(1) Narrated by al-Bukhari in al-Fara'id (Laws of Inheritance), chapter: “The inheritance of a son's daughter alongside a daughter” (6736).

فذهب الرجل إلى ابن مسعود وقال: إنه سأل أبا موسى الأشعري، وقال: للبنت النصف وما بقي فللأخت ولم يعط ابنة الابن شيئاً، وأنه قال: اذهب لابن مسعود فسيوافقني، فقال ابن مسعود: لقد ضللت إذاً وما أنا من المهتدين، ـ يعني إن تابعته فقد ضللت ـ ولأقضين فيها بقضاء رسول الله ﷺ للبنت النصف، ولبنت الابن السدس تكملة الثلثين، وما بقي فللأخت (١)، فهذا دليل على أن لبنت الابن مع البنت السدس، ولا يزيد الفرض بزيادة بنات الابن؛ لأنه لا يمكن أن نتعدى الثلثين اللَّذَيْنِ جعلهما الله ﷿ للبنتين فأكثر. وقوله: «ولأخت فأكثر لأبٍ» يعني ثنتين فأكثر، وهنا قال: «ولأخت فأكثر لأب» فقدم أكثر؛ لأنه لو قدم «أب» وقال: لأخت لأب فأكثر؛ لأوهم أن الكثرة بالنسبة للأب، فإن قال قائل: هذا لا يمكن أن يوهم، قلنا: بل يوهم؛ لأن الفقهاء يرون أن الإنسان قد يكون له أبوان، فلهذا رأى المؤلف ﵀ أن يقدم «فأكثر» على قوله: «لأب». قوله: «مع عدم معصب فيهما» أي في الأخوات لأب مع الأخت الشقيقة، وفي بنات الابن مع البنت، فإن وجد معصب ورثن بالتعصيب معه. فَإِن اسْتَكْمَلَ الثُّلُثَيْنِ بَنَاتٌ أَوْ هُمَا سَقَطَ مَنْ دُوْنَهُنَّ إِنْ لَمْ يُعَصِّبْهُنَّ ذَكَرٌ بِإِزَائِهِنَّ أَوْ أَنْزَلُ مِنْهُنَّ، وَكَذَا الأَخَوَاتُ مِنَ الأَبِ مَعَ الأَخَوَاتِ لأَبَوَيْنِ إِنْ لَمْ يُعَصِّبْهُنَّ أَخُوهُنَّ، قوله: «فإن استكمل الثلثين بنات أو هما» أي البنت وبنت الابن.

(١) أخرجه البخاري في الفرائض/ باب ميراث ابنة ابن مع ابنة (٦٧٣٦).