Chapter on the Inheritance of Grandmothers

A grandmother does not take anything from the estate when the deceased’s mother is alive, whatever line of descent that grandmother comes through. Likewise, the father’s mother receives nothing when the deceased’s mother is present, and she is also completely barred when the father is present.

The fixed share of any qualifying grandmother is one-sixth. It is neither increased nor reduced—whether other fixed-share heirs exist or not—except for a reduction caused by ʿawl (proportional diminishment). This is the view held by ʿAlī and Zayd ibn Thābit, although a weak report attributes to ʿAlī a different ruling regarding a grandmother inheriting alongside her own son.

Because a grandmother is prevented from inheriting when her daughter (the deceased’s mother) is alive, she is equally prevented when her son (the deceased’s father) is alive. When the two qualifying grandmothers are both present, they share the one-sixth on equal terms.

Imām Mālik, however, recognises inheritance for only two grandmothers: the mother’s mother—no matter how far removed—and the father’s mother—no matter how far removed. No other grandmother, nor any of their ascendants, inherits. For example: the mother of the mother of the mother, or the mother of the father.

The grandmother who is the mother of the paternal grandfather, and the grandfather who is the father of the maternal grandmother, receive nothing under any circumstance, whether another qualifying grandmother exists or not.

Therefore, if the paternal grandmother and the maternal grandmother are both present while the deceased leaves neither mother nor father, and they are equal in number, the one-sixth is divided equally between them; and if the maternal grandmother