His statement, “The children of sisters are like their mothers,” includes both males and females. That is, a sister’s son and a sister’s daughter are treated alike. Thus, if a person dies leaving the daughter of a full sister, the daughter of a paternal half-sister, and a paternal aunt, it is as though he died leaving a full sister, a paternal half-sister, and a father. The estate goes to the father; therefore, neither the daughter of the full sister nor the daughter of the paternal half-sister receives anything, because the father excludes them.

Let us instead take the paternal aunt to be the daughter of a full paternal uncle. How should we divide the estate? We say: suppose that he died leaving a full sister, a paternal half-sister, and a full paternal uncle. The full sister receives one-half, the paternal half-sister receives one-sixth, completing two-thirds, and the remainder goes to the paternal uncle. Thus, the daughter of the full sister receives one-half, the daughter of the paternal half-sister receives one-sixth, completing two-thirds, and the remainder goes to the daughter of the paternal uncle.

“The daughters of brothers and paternal uncles—whether full or paternal half-relatives—the daughters of their sons, and the children of maternal half-brothers are like their fathers.”

His statement, “The daughters of brothers and paternal uncles”: the word “paternal uncles” is in the genitive case, and this parsing is necessary. For if it were read in the nominative case—“and the paternal uncles”—the example would not be sound, since they are residuary heirs, and the daughters of sisters would inherit nothing in their presence. It would have been preferable for the author to say, “the daughters of brothers and the daughters of paternal uncles,” so that no misunderstanding might arise.

His statement, “whether full or paternal half-relatives, the daughters of their sons, and the children of maternal half-brothers are like their fathers”: the author—may Allah have mercy on him—said, “the daughters of brothers and paternal uncles,” because the sons of brothers are residuary heirs, as are the sons of paternal uncles. As for maternal half-brothers, all their sons and daughters are distant kindred. This is why he said, “the children of maternal half-brothers are like their fathers.”

Thus, the daughter of a full brother and the daughter of a paternal half-brother are like their fathers. If a person dies leaving the daughter of a full brother and the daughter of a paternal half-brother, the estate goes to the daughter of the full brother;