Once the paternal aunts’ entitlement is exhausted, custody passes to the daughters of the brothers.
Thereafter, it goes to the daughters of the sisters.
When both these categories have been considered, custody is assigned to the daughters of the paternal uncles, followed by the daughters of the paternal aunts.
Should none of them be available, custody reverts to the remaining agnatic relatives (ʿaṣaba) in order of proximity: the brothers, then their sons, then the paternal uncles, then their sons.
If the ward is a female, the custodian must be one of her unmarriageable kin (maḥram). If no maḥram relative is found, she is to be placed with a trustworthy guardian appointed by the judge.