Umar, however, did not adopt a definitive position regarding the grandfather’s inheritance. He said:

“There are three matters I wish the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—had clarified for us: the grandfather, collateral inheritance, and certain forms of usury.” (1)

This is because Allah Most High calls the grandfather a father in several places in His Book. He says:

“He drove your parents out of Paradise.”

[Surah al-Arāf: 27]

And He says:

“The faith of your father Abraham.”

[Surah al-Hajj: 78]

He also says, “O Children of Israel,” and, “O Children of Adam,” in several places.

If a son’s son is deemed a son, then a father’s father is likewise deemed a father. Moreover, in matters other than the disputed question, the grandfather takes the father’s place: like the father, he excludes maternal siblings from inheritance; he takes precedence over all agnatic heirs except sons; he receives one-sixth when there is a child; and, when there are daughters, he receives both a prescribed share and the residue.

As for the two Umari cases—one involving a husband and both parents, and the other a wife (2) and both parents—the mother receives one-third of the remainder, while the rest goes to the father (3). If there were instead a grandfather with her (4), she would receive the entire third according to the majority of the Companions and scholars, with the exception of Ibn Masūd, because the mother is more closely related than the grandfather,