Surah Nisa ayat 11 Tafsir Quran 4:11

﴿يُوصِيكُمُ اللَّهُ فِي أَوْلَادِكُمْ ۖ لِلذَّكَرِ مِثْلُ حَظِّ الْأُنثَيَيْنِ ۚ فَإِن كُنَّ نِسَاءً فَوْقَ اثْنَتَيْنِ فَلَهُنَّ ثُلُثَا مَا تَرَكَ ۖ وَإِن كَانَتْ وَاحِدَةً فَلَهَا النِّصْفُ ۚ وَلِأَبَوَيْهِ لِكُلِّ وَاحِدٍ مِّنْهُمَا السُّدُسُ مِمَّا تَرَكَ إِن كَانَ لَهُ وَلَدٌ ۚ فَإِن لَّمْ يَكُن لَّهُ وَلَدٌ وَوَرِثَهُ أَبَوَاهُ فَلِأُمِّهِ الثُّلُثُ ۚ فَإِن كَانَ لَهُ إِخْوَةٌ فَلِأُمِّهِ السُّدُسُ ۚ مِن بَعْدِ وَصِيَّةٍ يُوصِي بِهَا أَوْ دَيْنٍ ۗ آبَاؤُكُمْ وَأَبْنَاؤُكُمْ لَا تَدْرُونَ أَيُّهُمْ أَقْرَبُ لَكُمْ نَفْعًا ۚ فَرِيضَةً مِّنَ اللَّهِ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا﴾
[ النساء: 11]

4:11 Allah instructs you concerning your children: for the male, what is equal to the share of two females. But if there are [only] daughters, two or more, for them is two thirds of one's estate. And if there is only one, for her is half. And for one's parents, to each one of them is a sixth of his estate if he left children. But if he had no children and the parents [alone] inherit from him, then for his mother is one third. And if he had brothers [or sisters], for his mother is a sixth, after any bequest he [may have] made or debt. Your parents or your children - you know not which of them are nearest to you in benefit. [These shares are] an obligation [imposed] by Allah. Indeed, Allah is ever Knowing and Wise.

God charges you He commands you concerning the matter of your children with what He will mention to the male of them the equivalent of the portion the lot of two females if there are two women with him so that half the property is his and the other half is theirs; if there is only one female with him then she has a third and he receives two thirds; if he is the only one he takes it all; and if they the offspring be only women more than two then for them two-thirds of what he the deceased leaves; likewise if they be two women since in the case of two sisters more deserving of such a share God says They shall receive two-thirds of what he leaves Q. 4176; and since a female is entitled to a third with a male she is all the more deserving of the same share with a female. It is said that fawq ‘more than’ introduces a relative clause; it is also said to guard against the wrong impression that the greater the number of females the greater the portion they are entitled to since it is mistakenly thought that the entitlement of two females to two-thirds derives from the fact that a female is entitled to one third when with a male; but if she the daughter be one wāhidatan is also read wāhidatun making the kāna construction syntactically complete then to her a half; and to his parents the deceased’s to each one of the two li-kulli wāhidin minhumā substitutes for the previous li-abawayhi ‘to his parents’ the sixth of what he leaves if he has a child male or female the point of the substitution is to show that they do not share the sixth but receive one each. The term ‘child’ walad also applies to a grandchild and likewise ‘parent’ abb to a grandparent; but if he has no child and his heirs are his parents alone or along with a spouse then to his mother read li-ummihi; also read in both places here and further down li-immihi in order to avoid the cumbersome transition from a damma ‘u’ to a kasra ‘I’ a third of the property or what remains after the spouse the rest being for the father; or if he has siblings two or more males or females to his mother a sixth and the rest for the father and nothing for the siblings.

Allah commends - to you your children thus

Learning the Various Shares of the Inheritance is Encouraged This, the following, and the last honorable Ayah in this Surah contain the knowledge of Al-Fara'id, inheritance.
The knowledge of Al-Fara'id is derived from these three Ayat and from the Hadiths on this subject which explain them.
Learning this knowledge is encouraged, especially the specific things mentioned in the Ayat.
Ibn `Uyaynah said; "Knowledge of Al-Fara'id was called half of knowledge, because it effects all people." The Reason Behind Revealing Ayah 4:11 Explaining this Ayah, Al-Bukhari recorded that Jabir bin `Abdullah said, "Allah's Messenger ﷺ came visiting me on foot with Abu Bakr at Banu Salamah's ( dwellings ), and the Prophet found me unconscious.
He asked for some water, performed ablution with it, then poured it on me, and I regained consciousness.
I said, `What do you command me to do with my money, O Allah's Messenger' this Ayah was later revealed, يُوصِيكُمُ اللَّهُ فِى أَوْلَـدِكُمْ لِلذَّكَرِ مِثْلُ حَظِّ الاٍّنْثَيَيْنِ ( Allah commands you for your children's (inheritance ); to the male, a portion equal to that of two females)." This is how it was recorded by Muslim and An-Nasa'i.
The remainder of the Six compilers also collected this Hadith.
Another Hadith from Jabir concerning the reason behind revealing Ayah 4:11 Ahmad recorded from Jabir that he said, "The wife of Sa`d bin Ar-Rabi` came to Allah's Messenger and said to him, `O Allah's Messenger! These are the two daughters of Sa`d bin Ar-Rabi`, who was killed as a martyr at Uhud.
Their uncle took their money and did not leave anything for them.
They will not be married unless they have money.' The Messenger ﷺ said, `Allah will decide on this matter.' The Ayah about the inheritance was later revealed and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent word to their uncle commanding him,
«أَعْطِ ابْنَتَيْ سَعْدٍ الثُّلُثَيْنِ، وَأُمَّهُمَا الثُّمُنَ، وَمَا بقِيَ فَهُوَ لَك»
( Give two-thirds (of Sa`d's money ) to Sa`d's two daughters and one eighth for their mother, and whatever is left is yours.)" Abu Dawud, At-Tirmidhi, and Ibn Majah collected this Hadith.
It is apparent, however, that the first Hadith from Jabir was about the case of the last Ayah in the Surah 4:176, rather than 4:11, for at the time this incident occurred, Jabir had sisters and did not have daughters, parents or offspring to inherit from him.
Yet, we mentioned the Hadith here just as Al-Bukhari did. Males Get Two Times the Share of Females for Inheritance Allah said, يُوصِيكُمُ اللَّهُ فِى أَوْلَـدِكُمْ لِلذَّكَرِ مِثْلُ حَظِّ الاٍّنْثَيَيْنِ ( Allah commands you for your children's (inheritance ): to the male, a portion equal to that of two females;) Allah commands: observe justice with your children.
The people of Jahiliyyah used to give the males, but not the females, a share in the inheritance.
Therefore, Allah commands that both males and females take a share in the inheritance, although the portion of the males is twice as much as that of the females.
There is a distinction because men need money to spend on their dependants, commercial transactions, work and fulfillling their obligations.
Consequently, men get twice the portion of the inheritance that females get.
Allah's statement, يُوصِيكُمُ اللَّهُ فِى أَوْلَـدِكُمْ لِلذَّكَرِ مِثْلُ حَظِّ الاٍّنْثَيَيْنِ ( Allah commands you for your children's (inheritance ): to the male, a portion equal to that of two females;) testifies to the fact that Allah is more merciful with children than their own parents are with them, since He commands the parents to be just and fair with their own children.
An authentic Hadith stated that a captured woman was looking for her child and when she found him, she held him, gave him her breast and nursed him.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to his Companions,
«أَتُرَوْنَ هذِهِ طَارِحَةً وَلَدَهَا فِي النَّارِ وَهِيَ تَقْدِرُ عَلى ذَلِك»
( Do you think that this woman would willingly throw her child in the fire ) They said, "No, O Messenger of Allah." He said,
«فَوَاللهِ للهُ أَرْحَمُ بِعِبَادِهِ مِنْ هذِهِ بِوَلَدِهَا»
( By Allah! Allah is more merciful with His servants than this woman is with her own child. ) Al-Bukhari recorded that Ibn `Abbas said, "The custom ( in old days ) was that the property of the deceased would be inherited by his offspring; as for the parents ( of the deceased ), they would inherit by the will of the deceased.
Then Allah cancelled whatever He willed from that custom and ordained that the male get twice the amount inherited by the female, and for each parent a sixth ( of the whole legacy ), for the wife an eighth or a fourth, and for the husband a half or a fourth." The Share of the Females When They Are the Only Eligible Heirs Allah said, فَإِن كُنَّ نِسَآءً فَوْقَ اثْنَتَيْنِ فَلَهُنَّ ثُلُثَا مَا تَرَكَ ( if only daughters, two or more, their share is two-thirds of the inheritance; ) We should mention here that some people said the Ayah only means two daughters, and that `more' is redundant, which is not true.
Nothing in the Qur'an is useless or redundant.
Had the Ayah been talking about only two women, it would have said, "The share of both of them is two-thirds." As for the daughters, two or more, the ruling that they get two-thirds was derived from this Ayah, stating that the two sisters get two-thirds.
We also mentioned the Hadith in which the Prophet commanded that two-thirds be the share of the two daughters of Sa`d bin Ar-Rabi`.
So this is proven in the Book and the Sunnah. وَإِن كَانَتْ وَحِدَةً فَلَهَا النِّصْفُ ( if only one, her share is half. ) If there are two daughters, then there are texts to prove they share a half.
Therefore, two-thirds is the share of the two daughters or sisters, and Allah knows best. Share of the Parents in the Inheritance Allah said, وَلاًّبَوَيْهِ لِكُلِّ وَحِدٍ مِّنْهُمَا السُّدُسُ ( For parents, a sixth share of inheritance to each ) There are several forms of the share that the parents get in the inheritance.
1.
If the deceased left behind children, the parents get a sixth each.
When the deceased had only one daughter, she gets half of the inheritance and the parents each one sixth, and another sixth is given to the father.
2.
When the parents are the only inheritors, the mother gets one-third while the father gets the remaining two-thirds.
In this case, the father's share will be twice the mother's share.
If the deceased had a surviving spouse, the spouse gets half, in the case of a husband, or a fourth in the case of a surviving wife.
In both cases, the mother of the deceased gets one-third of the remaining inheritance.
This is because the remaining portion of the inheritance is treated just as the entire legacy in regard to the parents' share.
Allah has given the mother one-half of what the father gets.
Therefore, the mother gets a third of the remaining inheritance while the father gets two-thirds.
3.
If the deceased left behind surviving brothers and sisters, whether half brothers, half sisters or from the same father and mother, their presence does not cause reduction in the father's share.
Yet, their presence reduces the share of the mother to one-sixth instead of one-third, and the father gets the rest, when there are no other heirs.
Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Qatadah commented on the Ayah, فَإِن كَانَ لَهُ إِخْوَةٌ فَلاٌّمِّهِ السُّدُسُ ( If the deceased left brothers or (sisters ), the mother has a sixth.) "Their presence will reduce the share of the mother, but they will not inherit.
If there is only one surviving brother, the mother's share will remain one-third, but her share will be reduced if there is more than one surviving brother.
The people of knowledge attribute this reduction in the mother's share from one-third ( to one-sixth ) to the fact that the father is the one who helps the brothers ( and sisters ) of the deceased get married, spending from his own money for this purpose.
The mother does not spend from her money for this purpose." This is a sound opinion. First the Debts are Paid Off, then the Will, then the FixedInheritance Allah said, مِن بَعْدِ وَصِيَّةٍ يُوصَى بِهَآ أَوْ دَيْنٍ ( (The distribution in all cases is ) after the payment of legacies he may have bequeathed or debts.) The scholars of the Salaf and the Khalaf agree that paying debts comes before fulfilling the will, and this is apparent to those who read the Ayah carefully.
Allah said next, ءَابَآؤُكُمْ وَأَبناؤُكُمْ لاَ تَدْرُونَ أَيُّهُمْ أَقْرَبُ لَكُمْ نَفْعاً ( You know not which of them, whether your parents or your children, are nearest to you in benefit. ) This Ayah means: We have appointed a share to the parents and children, contrary to the practice of Jahiliyyah and the early Islamic era, when the inheritance would go to the children, and parents get a share only if they were named in the will, as Ibn `Abbas stated.
Allah abrogated this practice and appointed a fixed share for the children and for the parents.
One may derive benefit in this life or for the Hereafter from his parents, the likes of which he could not get from his children.
The opposite of this could also be true.
Allah said, ءَابَآؤُكُمْ وَأَبناؤُكُمْ لاَ تَدْرُونَ أَيُّهُمْ أَقْرَبُ لَكُمْ نَفْعاً ( You know not which of them, whether your parents or your children, are nearest to you in benefit, ): since benefit could come from one or the other of these relatives, We appointed a fixed share of inheritance for each.
Allah knows best.
Allah said, فَرِيضَةً مِّنَ اللَّهِ ( ordained by Allah ), meaning: These appointed shares of inheritance that We mentioned and which give some inheritors a bigger share than others, is a commandment from Allah that He has decided and ordained, إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيماً حَكِيماً ( And Allah is Ever All-Knower, All-Wise. ), Who places everything in its rightful place and gives each his rightful share.

(4:11) Allah thus commands you concerning your children: the share of the male is like that of two females. *15 If (the heirs of the deceased are) more than two daughters, they shall have two-thirds of the inheritance; *16 and if there is only one daughter, then she shall have half the inheritance. If the deceased has any offspring, each of his parents shall have a sixth of the inheritance; *17 and if the deceased has no child and his parents alone inherit him, then one-third shall go to his mother; *18 and if the deceased has brothers and sisters, then one-sixth shall go to his mother. *19 All these shares are to be given after payment of the bequest he might have made or any debts outstanding against him. *20

You do not know which of them, your parents or your children, are more beneficial to you. But these portions have been determined by Allah, for He indeed knows all, is cognizant of all beneficent considerations. *21

Allah instructs you concerning your children: for meaning

*15).
This is the first general rule in connection with inheritance, viz., that the share of the male should be double that of the female.
Since Islamic law imposes greater financial obligations on men in respect of family life and relieves women of a number of such obligations, justice demands that a woman's share in inheritance should be less than that of a man.

*16).
The same applies in the case where there are two daughters.
If the deceased leaves only daughters, and if there are two or more daughters then they will receive two-thirds of the inheritance and the remaining one-third will go to the other heirs.
But if the deceased has only one son there is a consensus among jurists that in the absence of other heirs he is entitled to all the property and if the deceased has other heirs, he is entitled to the property left after their shares have been distributed.

*17).
If the deceased leaves issue each of his parents will receive one-sixth of the inheritance irrespective of whether the issue consists either only of daughters, only of sons, of both sons and daughters, of just one son or just one daughter.
The remaining two-thirds will be distributed among the rest of the heirs.

*18).
If there are no other heirs than the parents, the remaining two-thirds will go to the share of the father; otherwise the two-thirds will be distributed between the father and other heirs.

*19).
In the case where the deceased also has brothers and sisters the share of the mother will be one-sixth rather than one-third.
In this case the sixth that was deducted from the share of the mother will be added to that of the father, for in this circumstance the father's obligations are heavier.
It should be noted that if the parents of the deceased are alive, the brothers and sisters will not be entitled to any share in the inheritance.

*20).
The mention of bequest precedes the mention of debt, for although not everyone need be encumbered with debt it is necessary that everyone should make a bequest.
( However, other Mufassirun (exegetes ) regard making a bequest as a discretionary act - Ed.) As for legalities, there is consensus among Muslims that the payment of debts takes precedence over the payment of bequests, i.e.
if the deceased owes a debt and also leaves a bequest, the debt will first be paid out of the inheritance, and only then will his bequest be fulfilled.
We have already stated in connection with bequest ( see Towards Understanding the Qur'an, vol.
I, Surah 2, n.
182 ) that a man has the right to bequeath up to a maximum of one-third of his inheritance.
The principle laid down in regard to bequest is that a man can -^ot a portion of his inheritance either to a relative who is not legally entitled to any prescribed share in the inheritance or to others whom he considers deserving of help, e.g.
either an orphaned grandson or grand-daughter, the widow of a son in financial distress, any brother, sister, brother's wife, nephew, and other relatives who seem to be in need of support.
If there are no such relatives bequests can be made either to other needy people or for charitable purposes.
In short, the Law has fixed regulations for the distribution of two-thirds or more of one's inheritance, out of which the legal heirs are to receive their shares according to the regulations laid down by the Law.
A maximum of one-third of the inheritance has been left to the discretion of the person concerned, who can dispose of it by means of bequest in light of his particular family circumstances.
If anyone makes either an inequitable bequest or misuses his discretion so as to hurt the legitimate rights of others, it is permissible for the members of the family to rectify the situation either by mutual agreement or by requesting a judge to intervene.
For further details see my booklet Yatim Pot6 ki Wirathat ka Mas'alah, Lahore, 1954.

*21).
This is in response to those feeble-minded people who do not fully appreciate God's law of inheritance and try to fill, with the help of their limited intellect, what they see as gaps in God's Laws.

 

Learning the Various Shares of the Inheritance is Encouraged This, the following, and the last honorable Ayah in this Surah contain the knowledge of Al-Fara'id, inheritance.
The knowledge of Al-Fara'id is derived from these three Ayat and from the Hadiths on this subject which explain them.
Learning this knowledge is encouraged, especially the specific things mentioned in the Ayat.
Ibn `Uyaynah said; "Knowledge of Al-Fara'id was called half of knowledge, because it effects all people." The Reason Behind Revealing Ayah 4:11 Explaining this Ayah, Al-Bukhari recorded that Jabir bin `Abdullah said, "Allah's Messenger ﷺ came visiting me on foot with Abu Bakr at Banu Salamah's ( dwellings ), and the Prophet found me unconscious.
He asked for some water, performed ablution with it, then poured it on me, and I regained consciousness.
I said, `What do you command me to do with my money, O Allah's Messenger' this Ayah was later revealed, يُوصِيكُمُ اللَّهُ فِى أَوْلَـدِكُمْ لِلذَّكَرِ مِثْلُ حَظِّ الاٍّنْثَيَيْنِ ( Allah commands you for your children's (inheritance ); to the male, a portion equal to that of two females)." This is how it was recorded by Muslim and An-Nasa'i.
The remainder of the Six compilers also collected this Hadith.
Another Hadith from Jabir concerning the reason behind revealing Ayah 4:11 Ahmad recorded from Jabir that he said, "The wife of Sa`d bin Ar-Rabi` came to Allah's Messenger and said to him, `O Allah's Messenger! These are the two daughters of Sa`d bin Ar-Rabi`, who was killed as a martyr at Uhud.
Their uncle took their money and did not leave anything for them.
They will not be married unless they have money.' The Messenger ﷺ said, `Allah will decide on this matter.' The Ayah about the inheritance was later revealed and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent word to their uncle commanding him, «أَعْطِ ابْنَتَيْ سَعْدٍ الثُّلُثَيْنِ، وَأُمَّهُمَا الثُّمُنَ، وَمَا بقِيَ فَهُوَ لَك» ( Give two-thirds (of Sa`d's money ) to Sa`d's two daughters and one eighth for their mother, and whatever is left is yours.)" Abu Dawud, At-Tirmidhi, and Ibn Majah collected this Hadith.
It is apparent, however, that the first Hadith from Jabir was about the case of the last Ayah in the Surah 4:176, rather than 4:11, for at the time this incident occurred, Jabir had sisters and did not have daughters, parents or offspring to inherit from him.
Yet, we mentioned the Hadith here just as Al-Bukhari did. Males Get Two Times the Share of Females for Inheritance Allah said, يُوصِيكُمُ اللَّهُ فِى أَوْلَـدِكُمْ لِلذَّكَرِ مِثْلُ حَظِّ الاٍّنْثَيَيْنِ ( Allah commands you for your children's (inheritance ): to the male, a portion equal to that of two females;) Allah commands: observe justice with your children.
The people of Jahiliyyah used to give the males, but not the females, a share in the inheritance.
Therefore, Allah commands that both males and females take a share in the inheritance, although the portion of the males is twice as much as that of the females.
There is a distinction because men need money to spend on their dependants, commercial transactions, work and fulfillling their obligations.
Consequently, men get twice the portion of the inheritance that females get.
Allah's statement, يُوصِيكُمُ اللَّهُ فِى أَوْلَـدِكُمْ لِلذَّكَرِ مِثْلُ حَظِّ الاٍّنْثَيَيْنِ ( Allah commands you for your children's (inheritance ): to the male, a portion equal to that of two females;) testifies to the fact that Allah is more merciful with children than their own parents are with them, since He commands the parents to be just and fair with their own children.
An authentic Hadith stated that a captured woman was looking for her child and when she found him, she held him, gave him her breast and nursed him.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to his Companions, «أَتُرَوْنَ هذِهِ طَارِحَةً وَلَدَهَا فِي النَّارِ وَهِيَ تَقْدِرُ عَلى ذَلِك» ( Do you think that this woman would willingly throw her child in the fire ) They said, "No, O Messenger of Allah." He said, «فَوَاللهِ للهُ أَرْحَمُ بِعِبَادِهِ مِنْ هذِهِ بِوَلَدِهَا» ( By Allah! Allah is more merciful with His servants than this woman is with her own child. ) Al-Bukhari recorded that Ibn `Abbas said, "The custom ( in old days ) was that the property of the deceased would be inherited by his offspring; as for the parents ( of the deceased ), they would inherit by the will of the deceased.
Then Allah cancelled whatever He willed from that custom and ordained that the male get twice the amount inherited by the female, and for each parent a sixth ( of the whole legacy ), for the wife an eighth or a fourth, and for the husband a half or a fourth." The Share of the Females When They Are the Only Eligible Heirs Allah said, فَإِن كُنَّ نِسَآءً فَوْقَ اثْنَتَيْنِ فَلَهُنَّ ثُلُثَا مَا تَرَكَ ( if only daughters, two or more, their share is two-thirds of the inheritance; ) We should mention here that some people said the Ayah only means two daughters, and that `more' is redundant, which is not true.
Nothing in the Qur'an is useless or redundant.
Had the Ayah been talking about only two women, it would have said, "The share of both of them is two-thirds." As for the daughters, two or more, the ruling that they get two-thirds was derived from this Ayah, stating that the two sisters get two-thirds.
We also mentioned the Hadith in which the Prophet commanded that two-thirds be the share of the two daughters of Sa`d bin Ar-Rabi`.
So this is proven in the Book and the Sunnah. وَإِن كَانَتْ وَحِدَةً فَلَهَا النِّصْفُ ( if only one, her share is half. ) If there are two daughters, then there are texts to prove they share a half.
Therefore, two-thirds is the share of the two daughters or sisters, and Allah knows best. Share of the Parents in the Inheritance Allah said, وَلاًّبَوَيْهِ لِكُلِّ وَحِدٍ مِّنْهُمَا السُّدُسُ ( For parents, a sixth share of inheritance to each ) There are several forms of the share that the parents get in the inheritance.
1.
If the deceased left behind children, the parents get a sixth each.
When the deceased had only one daughter, she gets half of the inheritance and the parents each one sixth, and another sixth is given to the father.
2.
When the parents are the only inheritors, the mother gets one-third while the father gets the remaining two-thirds.
In this case, the father's share will be twice the mother's share.
If the deceased had a surviving spouse, the spouse gets half, in the case of a husband, or a fourth in the case of a surviving wife.
In both cases, the mother of the deceased gets one-third of the remaining inheritance.
This is because the remaining portion of the inheritance is treated just as the entire legacy in regard to the parents' share.
Allah has given the mother one-half of what the father gets.
Therefore, the mother gets a third of the remaining inheritance while the father gets two-thirds.
3.
If the deceased left behind surviving brothers and sisters, whether half brothers, half sisters or from the same father and mother, their presence does not cause reduction in the father's share.
Yet, their presence reduces the share of the mother to one-sixth instead of one-third, and the father gets the rest, when there are no other heirs.
Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Qatadah commented on the Ayah, فَإِن كَانَ لَهُ إِخْوَةٌ فَلاٌّمِّهِ السُّدُسُ ( If the deceased left brothers or (sisters ), the mother has a sixth.) "Their presence will reduce the share of the mother, but they will not inherit.
If there is only one surviving brother, the mother's share will remain one-third, but her share will be reduced if there is more than one surviving brother.
The people of knowledge attribute this reduction in the mother's share from one-third ( to one-sixth ) to the fact that the father is the one who helps the brothers ( and sisters ) of the deceased get married, spending from his own money for this purpose.
The mother does not spend from her money for this purpose." This is a sound opinion. First the Debts are Paid Off, then the Will, then the FixedInheritance Allah said, مِن بَعْدِ وَصِيَّةٍ يُوصَى بِهَآ أَوْ دَيْنٍ ( (The distribution in all cases is ) after the payment of legacies he may have bequeathed or debts.) The scholars of the Salaf and the Khalaf agree that paying debts comes before fulfilling the will, and this is apparent to those who read the Ayah carefully.
Allah said next, ءَابَآؤُكُمْ وَأَبناؤُكُمْ لاَ تَدْرُونَ أَيُّهُمْ أَقْرَبُ لَكُمْ نَفْعاً ( You know not which of them, whether your parents or your children, are nearest to you in benefit. ) This Ayah means: We have appointed a share to the parents and children, contrary to the practice of Jahiliyyah and the early Islamic era, when the inheritance would go to the children, and parents get a share only if they were named in the will, as Ibn `Abbas stated.
Allah abrogated this practice and appointed a fixed share for the children and for the parents.
One may derive benefit in this life or for the Hereafter from his parents, the likes of which he could not get from his children.
The opposite of this could also be true.
Allah said, ءَابَآؤُكُمْ وَأَبناؤُكُمْ لاَ تَدْرُونَ أَيُّهُمْ أَقْرَبُ لَكُمْ نَفْعاً ( You know not which of them, whether your parents or your children, are nearest to you in benefit, ): since benefit could come from one or the other of these relatives, We appointed a fixed share of inheritance for each.
Allah knows best.
Allah said, فَرِيضَةً مِّنَ اللَّهِ ( ordained by Allah ), meaning: These appointed shares of inheritance that We mentioned and which give some inheritors a bigger share than others, is a commandment from Allah that He has decided and ordained, إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيماً حَكِيماً ( And Allah is Ever All-Knower, All-Wise. ), Who places everything in its rightful place and gives each his rightful share.

Allah then exposited the share of the male and female in inheritance, saying: ( Allah chargeth you ) Allah expounds to you ( concerning your children ) concerning the inheritance of your children after you die: ( to the male the equivalent of the portion of two females ) the share of two females, ( and if there be women ) blood daughters ( more than two ) two or more daughters, ( then theirs is two-thirds of the inheritance, and if there be one ) daughter ( (only ) then the half) of the inheritance. ( And to his parents a sixth of the inheritance, if he ) the deceased person ( have a son ) or daughter; ( and if he ) the deceased person ( have no son ) or daughter ( and his parents are his heirs, then to his mother appertaineth the third ) and the reminder is the share of the father; ( and if he ) the deceased person ( have brethren ) full brothers or half brothers from either the father or the mother, ( then to his mother appertaineth the sixth, after any legacy he may have bequeathed, or debt (hath been paid )) after paying the debt of the deceased and extracting any bequest which does not exceed a third of the inheritance. ( Your parents or your children: Ye know not ) in this world ( which of them is nearer unto you in usefulness ) in the Hereafter in terms of rank; it is also said that this means: you do not know which of them is nearer in usefulness in this world with regard to inheritance. ( It is an injunction from Allah ) upon you that you divide the estates. ( Lo! Allah is Knower ) in relation to the division of inheritance, ( Wise ) in relation to the difference between the shares of the male and female.

Allah commands you as regards your children's (inheritance); to the male, a portion equal to that of two females; if (there are) only daughters, two or more, their share is two thirds of the inheritance; if only one, her share is half. For parents, a sixth share of inheritance to each if the deceased left children; if no children, and the parents are the (only) heirs, the mother has a third; if the deceased left brothers or (sisters), the mother has a sixth. (The distribution in all cases is) after the payment of legacies he may have bequeathed or debts. You know not which of them, whether your parents or your children, are nearest to you in benefit, (these fixed shares) are ordained by Allah. And Allah is Ever All-Knower, All-Wise.

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