Chapter on Reversion (al-radd) in Inheritance

Lexically, radd means turning something back or returning it. One says, “radda-hu raddan,” meaning he sent it back and diverted it. The verb “irtadda” denotes returning; hence apostasy (riddah) is so named, for it is a return from the true religion.

In the terminology of the scholars of inheritance, radd is the redistribution of the remainder of an estate—after the fixed shares have been paid—among the very heirs who hold those shares, in proportion to their allotted portions, whenever no agnatic heir (ʿaṣabah) exists who is entitled to that remainder.

Allah, exalted be He, has set the obligatory shares at one-half, one-quarter, one-eighth, two-thirds, one-third, and one-sixth, and He has explained how male and female agnates inherit. The Prophet ﷺ further said: “Give the prescribed shares to those entitled to them; whatever remains goes to the nearest male agnate.” This noble ḥadīth clarifies the Quran and arranges the heirs into two groups: the holders of fixed shares and the agnates. Whenever both groups are present, the ruling is clear: the shareholders receive their fixed portions, and whatever is left passes to the agnates. If nothing remains, the agnates receive nothing, in accordance with this ḥadīth. Should only agnates be present, they take the entire estate by agnation, dividing it equally per head.