and even if a guarantor were secured, he himself might later face unforeseen difficulties and become unable to honour the commitment, thereby jeopardising the unborn child’s right should it turn out that the mother is carrying more than one.

According to the preponderant opinion, six possible scenarios are calculated for the fetus. The child will either be delivered alive with a stable, viable life, or be delivered stillborn. If born alive, it may prove to be: (1) one male, (2) one female, (3) a male and a female, (4) two males, or (5) two females. These, together with the stillborn case, make six scenarios. A separate inheritance problem is constructed for each, the necessary arithmetic is performed, and the conditions of the other heirs are examined: whoever inherits an identical share under all scenarios is paid his full portion; whoever’s share differs receives the lesser amount; and whoever inherits in some scenarios but not others is given nothing at this stage. The balance is held in suspense until the situation of the fetus is clarified, as previously detailed. And Allah knows best.