Al-Sharḥ al-Mumtiʿ - Ibn al-'Uthaymin - (11/289)

Al-Sharḥ al-MumtiʿIbn al-'Uthaymin

and the two existing sons receive half of the remainder. If we deem it to be one child, the two sons receive two-thirds; and if we deem it to be a female, the two existing sons receive four-fifths. Therefore, the greater share is obtained by deeming it to be two males. If someone asks, “Why do we not deem it to be three?” we reply: This is rare, and rare cases carry no ruling. But if we were to suppose that we deemed it to be two and then they turned out to be more, the excess would be reclaimed from their shares.

If someone asks, “Why do we not deem it to be one, since that is certain?” we reply: Because the occurrence of two is common. Moreover, if we were to follow certainty, we would assign it nothing, since it is possible that it may be miscarried dead. Therefore, our scholars chose to reserve for it the share of two: if the greater share is that of two females, the share of two females is reserved; and if the greater share is that of two males, the share of two males is reserved.

“If it is delivered alive, it takes its due share; whatever remains belongs to the one entitled to it. Whoever is not excluded by it takes his inheritance, such as the grandmother. Whoever has his share reduced by it receives the certain amount. Whoever is excluded by it is given nothing. It may inherit and be inherited from if it is born crying …”

His statement, “If it is delivered,” means the fetus.

His statement, “It takes its due share, and whatever remains belongs to the one entitled to it,” means that if there is an excess, it is reclaimed from those already present. For example, if a man dies leaving two sons and a pregnant wife, the wife receives one-eighth. We deem the fetus to be two males and give the two existing sons half of the remainder. But if the fetus turns out to be three, we reclaim from them and say: instead of dividing it into fourths, we divide it into fifths: the two existing sons receive two-fifths, and the fetus receives three-fifths.

Thus, when we reserve the share of two males or two females, it takes its due share. If anything remains, it is returned to the one entitled to it; and if it falls short of anything, it is taken from the one who received it, because the entire matter depends on what actually occurs in the future.

الموجودَيْن نصف الباقي، وإن قدرناه واحداً صار للاثنين الثلثان، وإن قدرناه أنثى صار للموجودَيْن أربعة أخماس، إذاً الأكثر أن نقدره ذكرين، فإن قال قائل: لماذا لم نقدره ثلاثة؟ نقول: هذا نادر، والنادر لا حكم له، لكن لو فرضنا أننا قدرناه اثنين ثم زادا رجع في نصيبهم. فإذا قال قائل: لماذا لا نقدره واحداً لأنه متيقن؟ قلنا؛ لأن وجود الاثنين كثير، ولو ذهبنا إلى اليقين لقلنا: لا نجعل له شيئاً؛ لأنه يحتمل أن يسقط ميتاً، لذلك اختار أصحابنا ﵏ أن يوقف له نصيب اثنين، فإن كان الأكثر نصيب الأنثيين وقف نصيب الأنثيين، وإن كان الأكثر نصيب الذكرين وقف نصيب الذكرين. فَإِذَا وُلِدَ أَخَذَ حَقَّهُ، وَمَا بَقِيَ فَهُوَ لِمُسْتَحِقِّهِ، وَمَنْ لَا يَحْجِبُهُ يَأْخُذُ إِرْثَهُ كَالجَدَّةِ، وَمَنْ يُنْقِصُهُ شَيْئاً اليَقِينَ، وَمَنْ سَقَطَ بِهِ لَمْ يُعْطَ شَيْئَاً، وَيرِثُ وَيُورَثُ إِنِ اسْتَهَلَّ صَارِخاً … قوله: «فإذا ولد» يعني الحمل. قوله: «أخذ حقه وما بقي فهو لمستحقه» وإن زاد رجع على الموجودين، فلو هلك هالك عن ابنين وزوجة حامل، الزوجة لها الثمن، ونقدر أن الحمل ذكران فنعطي الابنين الموجودين نصف الباقي، لكن إن صار الحمل ثلاثة، فنرجع عليهم ونقول: بدلاً من أن نقسمه أرباعاً نقسمه أخماساً، للابنين الموجودين الخمسان وللحمل ثلاثة أخماس. فصار إذا وقفنا إرث ذكرين أو أنثيين يأخذ حقه، فإن بقي شيء رد على مستحقه، وإن نقص له شيء أخذ ممن أخذه؛ لأن المسألة كلها تحت الواقع المستقبل.