the deceased female paternal cousin; the daughter then died, leaving children of a paternal uncle. Who is entitled to inherit: the children of the male paternal cousin on her mother’s side, or the children of her own paternal uncle?

The answer:

The position of Imam Ahmad and others who uphold inheritance by representation—a similar view having been transmitted from the Companions and Successors, and this being the majority position—is that each of the distant kindred takes the place of the relative through whom they are connected, whether closely or distantly related. Proximity to the heir is not taken into account. Then, with the line of kinship being the same, the paternal uncle’s children receive two-thirds of the estate, and the children of the mother’s male paternal cousin receive one-third, since the latter’s connection ultimately runs through the mother. When a mother inherits alongside a father or grandfather, the mother receives one-third and he receives the remainder. Allah knows best.

He—may Allah have mercy on him—was asked:

A man died leaving a wife and three sons by her. One son then died, leaving his mother and his two brothers. Another then died, leaving his mother and his brother. The third then died, leaving his mother and a son of his own. What share of his estate does the mother receive?

He replied:

The wife receives one-eighth of the first deceased man’s estate, and the remainder goes to the brothers, who are his sons.

As for the first brother to die, his mother receives one-sixth of his estate, and the remainder goes to his two brothers.

As for the second brother, his mother receives one-third of his estate, and the remainder goes to his brother.

As for the third brother, his mother receives one-sixth of the estate, and the remainder goes to his son.