Tafsir al-Baghawi - Al-Baghawi - (2/178)

the inheritance is deferred until after both the debt and the bequest. That is: after a bequest, if there is one, or a debt, if there is one; thus, the inheritance comes after each of the two.

“Your parents and your children”—meaning, it is your parents and your children who inherit from you—“you do not know which of them is nearer to you in benefit.” That is, you do not know which of them is more beneficial to you in religion and worldly life. Some of you may think that the father is more beneficial to him, while the son is in fact more beneficial; and some may think that the son is more beneficial to him, while the father is in fact more beneficial. Yet I know best who is more beneficial for you, and I have arranged your affairs in the manner that serves your best interests, so follow it.

‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “Whichever of your parents and children is more obedient to Allah will be raised to a higher rank on the Day of Resurrection.” Allah, exalted is He, will allow the believers to intercede for one another. Thus, if the parent is of a higher rank in Paradise, his child will be raised to him; and if the child is of a higher rank, his parent will be raised to him, so that their eyes may be comforted thereby.

“An obligation from Allah”—that is, the shares of inheritance which He has prescribed. “Indeed, Allah is Ever Knowing” of the affairs of His servants, “All-Wise” in the ordinances He has established.

الْمِيرَاثَ مُؤَخَّرٌ عَنِ الدَّيْنِ وَالْوَصِيَّةِ جَمِيعًا، مَعْنَاهُ: مِنْ بَعْدِ وَصِيَّةٍ إِنْ كَانَتْ، أَوْ دَيْنٍ إِنْ كَانَ، فَالْإِرْثُ مُؤَخَّرٌ عَنْ كُلٍّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمَا. ﴿آبَاؤُكُمْ وَأَبْنَاؤُكُمْ﴾ يَعْنِي: الَّذِينَ يَرِثُونَكُمْ آبَاؤُكُمْ وَأَبْنَاؤُكُمْ، ﴿لَا تَدْرُونَ أَيُّهُمْ أَقْرَبُ لَكُمْ نَفْعًا﴾ أَيْ: لَا تَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُمْ أَنْفَعُ لَكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ وَالدُّنْيَا فَمِنْكُمْ مَنْ يَظُنُّ أَنَّ الْأَبَ أَنْفَعُ لَهُ، فَيَكُونُ الِابْنُ أَنْفَعَ لَهُ، وَمِنْكُمْ مَنْ يَظُنُّ أَنَّ الِابْنَ أَنْفَعُ لَهُ فَيَكُونُ الْأَبُ أَنْفَعَ لَهُ، وَأَنَا الْعَالِمُ بِمَنْ هُوَ أَنْفَعُ لَكُمْ، وَقَدْ دَبَّرْتُ أَمْرَكُمْ عَلَى مَا فِيهِ الْمَصْلَحَةُ فَاتَّبِعُوهُ، وَقَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبَّاسٍ ﵄: أَطْوعُكُمْ لِلَّهِ ﷿ مِنَ الْآبَاءِ وَالْأَبْنَاءِ أَرْفَعُكُمْ دَرَجَةً يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ، وَاللَّهُ تَعَالَى يُشَفِّعُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ بَعْضَهُمْ فِي بَعْضٍ، فَإِنْ كَانَ الْوَالِدُ أَرْفَعَ دَرَجَةً فِي الْجَنَّةِ رُفِعَ إِلَيْهِ وَلَدُهُ وَإِنْ كَانَ الْوَلَدُ أَرْفَعَ دَرَجَةً رُفِعَ إِلَيْهِ وَالِدُهُ لِتَقَرَّ بِذَلِكَ أَعْيُنُهُمْ، ﴿فَرِيضَةً مِنَ اللَّهِ﴾ أَيْ: مَا قَدَّرَ مِنَ الْمَوَارِيثِ، ﴿إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيمًا﴾ بِأُمُورِ الْعِبَادِ، ﴿حَكِيمًا﴾ بِنُصُبِ الْأَحْكَامِ.