A male child excludes her from inheritance, all the more so since he also excludes the brother, as indicated by His words:

“He inherits from her if she leaves no child.”

Thus, unrestricted inheritance is established for him only when she leaves no child. Unrestricted inheritance means receiving the entire estate. This indicates that, if she leaves a child, he does not receive the entire estate: he is either excluded or receives only part of it.

If she leaves a child, that child must be either a son or a daughter. The Quran has explained that a daughter receives only half. This indicates that she does not deprive him of the other half when the only heirs are a daughter and a brother.

Since Allah’s ruling concerns collateral inheritance, which applies to someone who leaves neither father nor child, it is known that this is not the ruling for someone who has neither child nor father. Since Allah Most High has explained that the brother receives the estate—the sister’s estate—and is therefore her residuary heir, the father has an even stronger claim to be a residuary heir. If the father and brother are residuary heirs, the son has a stronger claim still.

Allah Most High says:

“For everyone We have appointed heirs to what parents and close relatives leave behind.”

The Prophet’s words (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) also indicate this:

“Give the prescribed shares to those entitled to them; whatever remains goes to the nearest male relative.”

This shows that only residuary heirs inherit what remains after the prescribed shares have been distributed. It is known that the son is the nearest relative, followed by the father, then the grandfather, then the brothers. The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) ruled that the descendants of brothers sharing a mother inherit from one another, to the exclusion of those descended from brothers with different mothers. Thus, a full brother has precedence over a paternal half-brother. A son’s son takes the place of the son. Likewise, the descendants of a nearer forefather are more closely related than the descendants of a more distant forefather; and whichever of them is closest to the more distant forefather