Surah Nisa ayat 7 Tafsir Quran 4:7

﴿لِّلرِّجَالِ نَصِيبٌ مِّمَّا تَرَكَ الْوَالِدَانِ وَالْأَقْرَبُونَ وَلِلنِّسَاءِ نَصِيبٌ مِّمَّا تَرَكَ الْوَالِدَانِ وَالْأَقْرَبُونَ مِمَّا قَلَّ مِنْهُ أَوْ كَثُرَ ۚ نَصِيبًا مَّفْرُوضًا﴾
[ النساء: 7]

4:7 For men is a share of what the parents and close relatives leave, and for women is a share of what the parents and close relatives leave, be it little or much - an obligatory share.

The following was revealed as a repudiation of pre-Islamic practices in which women and children were not given any inheritance To the men young ones and kin belongs a share a portion of what deceased parents and kinsmen leave and to the women belongs a share of what parents and kinsmen leave whether it the property be little or much. God has made it an obligatory share apportioned to be given to them.

Men have a rightful claim to the property left by the parents and the kindred, and, women have the same rightful claim to the property left by the parents and the kindred, be it little or much; it is a clearly defined portion allotted to them by Providence

The Necessity of Surrendering the Inheritance According to the Portions that Allah Ordained Sa`id bin Jubayr and Qatadah said, "The idolators used to give adult men a share of inheritance and deprive women and children of it.
Allah revealed; لِّلرِّجَالِ نَصيِبٌ مِّمَّا تَرَكَ الْوَلِدَنِ وَالاٌّقْرَبُونَ ( There is a share for men from what is left by parents and those nearest in relation )." Therefore, everyone is equal in Allah's decision to inherit, even though their shares vary according to the degree of their relationship to the deceased, whether being a relative, spouse, etc.
Ibn Marduwyah reported that Jabir said, "Umm Kujjah came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said to him, `O Messenger of Allah! I have two daughters whose father died, and they do not own anything.' So Allah revealed; لِّلرِّجَالِ نَصيِبٌ مِّمَّا تَرَكَ الْوَلِدَنِ وَالاٌّقْرَبُونَ ( There is a share for men from what is left by parents and those nearest in relation. )" We will mention this Hadith when explaining the two Ayat about inheritance.
Allah knows best.
Allah said, وَإِذَا حَضَرَ الْقِسْمَةَ ( are present at the time of division, ) those who do not have a share in the inheritance, وَالْيَتَـمَى وَالْمَسَـكِينُ ( and the orphans and the poor ), are also present upon dividing the inheritance, give them a share of the inheritance.
Al-Bukhari recorded that Ibn `Abbas said that the Ayah, وَإِذَا حَضَرَ الْقِسْمَةَ أُوْلُواْ الْقُرْبَى وَالْيَتَـمَى وَالْمَسَـكِينُ ( And when the relatives and the orphans and the poor are present at the time of division ), was not abrogated.
Ibn Jarir recorded that Ibn `Abbas said that this Ayah still applies and should be implemented.
Ath-Thawri said that Ibn Abi Najih narrated from Mujahid that implementing this Ayah, "Is required from those who have anything to inherit, paid from whatever portions their hearts are satisfied with giving away." Similar explanation was reported from Ibn Mas`ud, Abu Musa, `Abdur-Rahman bin Abi Bakr, Abu Al-`Aliyah, Ash-Sha`bi and Al-Hasan.
Ibn Sirin, Sa`id bin Jubayr, Makhul, Ibrahim An-Nakha`i, `Ata' bin Abi Rabah, Az-Zuhri and Yahya bin Ya`mar said this payment is obligatory.
Others say that this refers to the bequeathal at the time of death.
And others say that it was abrogated.
Al-`Awfi reported that Ibn `Abbas said that this Ayah, وَإِذَا حَضَرَ الْقِسْمَةَ ( And when are present at the time of division ), refers to divisions of inheritance.
So, when poor relatives, who are ineligible for inheritance, orphans, and the poor attend the division of the inheritance, which is sometimes substantial, their hearts will feel eager to have a share, seeing each eligible person assuming his share; while they are desperate, yet are not given anything.
Allah the Most Kind, Most Compassionate, commands that they should have a share in the inheritance as an act of kindness, charity, compassion and mercy for them. Observing Fairness in the Will Allah said, وَلْيَخْشَ الَّذِينَ لَوْ تَرَكُواْ مِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ ( And let those have the same fear in their minds as they would have for their own, if they had left behind... ) `Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn `Abbas said that this part of the Ayah, "Refers to a man who is near death and he dictates a will and testament that harms some of the rightful inheritors.
Allah commands whoever hears such will to fear Allah, and direct the dying man to do what is right and to be fair, being as eager to protect the inheritors of the dying man as he would be with his own." Similar was reported from Mujahid and several others.
The Two Sahihs record that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ visited Sa`d bin Abi Waqqas during an illness he suffered from, Sa`d said to the Messenger, "O Messenger of Allah! I am wealthy and have no inheritors except a daughter.
Should I give two-thirds of my property in charity" He said, "No." Sa`d asked, "Half" He said, "No." Sa`d said, "One-third" The Prophet said;
«الثُّلُثُ، وَالثُّلُثُ كَثِير»
( One-third, and even one-third is too much. ) The Messenger of Allah ﷺ then said,
«إِنَّكَ أَنْ تَذَرَ وَرَثَتَكَ أَغْنِيَاءَ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَنْ تَذَرَهُمْ عَالَةً يَتَكَفَّفُونَ النَّاس»
( You'd better leave your inheritors wealthy rather than leaving them poor, begging from others. ) A Stern Warning Against Those Who Use Up the Orphan's Wealth It was also said that the Ayah وَلاَ تَأْكُلُوهَآ إِسْرَافاً وَبِدَاراً أَن يَكْبَرُواْ ( consume it not wastefully and hastily, fearing that they should grow up, ) means, let them have Taqwa of Allah when taking care of the orphan's wealth, as Ibn Jarir recorded from Al-`Awfi who reported this explanation from Ibn `Abbas.
This is a sound opinion that is supported by the warning that follows against consuming the orphan's wealth unjustly.
In this case, the meaning becomes: Just as you would want your offspring to be treated fairly after you, then treat other people's offspring fairly when you are given the responsibility of caring for them.
Allah proclaims that those who unjustly consume the wealth of orphans, will be eating fire into their stomach, this is why Allah said, إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَأْكُلُونَ أَمْوَلَ الْيَتَـمَى ظُلْماً إِنَّمَا يَأْكُلُونَ فِى بُطُونِهِمْ نَاراً وَسَيَصْلَوْنَ سَعِيراً ( Verily, those who unjustly eat up the property of orphans, they eat up only a fire into their bellies, and they will be burnt in the blazing Fire! ) meaning, when you consume the orphan's wealth without a right, then you are only consuming fire, which will kindle in your stomach on the Day of Resurrection.
It is recorded in the Two Sahihs that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
«اجْتَنِبُوا السَّبْعَ الْمُوبِقَات»
( Avoid the seven great destructive sins.
) The people asked, "O Allah's Messenger! What are they" He said,
«الشِّرْكُ بِاللهِ، وَالسِّحْرُ، وَقَتْلُ النَّفْسِ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللهُ إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ، وَأَكْلُ الرِّبَا، وَأَكْلُ مَالِ الْيَتِيمِ، وَالتَّوَلِّي يَوْمَ الزَّحْفِ، وَقَذْفُ الْمُحْصَنَاتِ الْمُؤْمِنَاتِ الْغَافِلَات»
( To join others in worship along with Allah, magic, to kill the life which Allah has forbidden except for a just cause, to consume interest, to consume an orphan's property, to turn your back to the enemy and flee from the battlefield at the time of fighting, and to accuse chaste women who never even think of anything harmful to their chastity being good believers. )

(4:7) Just as there is a share for men in what their parents and kinsfolk leave behind, so there is a share for women in what their parents and kinsfolk leave behind - be it little or much *12 - a share ordained (by Allah).

For men is a share of what meaning

*12).
This verse embodies five legal injunctions.
First, that women as well as men are entitled to inheritance.
Second, that inheritance, however meagre it might be, should be distributed; even if the deceased has left a small piece of cloth and he has ten heirs, that piece of cloth should be distributed among them all.
This does not exclude, however, the permissibility of one heir purchasing the shares of other heirs with their consent.
Third, this verse indicates that the law of inheritance is applicable to all kinds of property - movable and immovable, agricultural, industrial and so on.
Fourth, it shows that the right of inheritance comes into force as soon as a person dies leaving property.
Fifth, it implies the rule that immediate blood-relatives exclude those that are further removed.

 

The Necessity of Surrendering the Inheritance According to the Portions that Allah Ordained Sa`id bin Jubayr and Qatadah said, "The idolators used to give adult men a share of inheritance and deprive women and children of it.
Allah revealed; لِّلرِّجَالِ نَصيِبٌ مِّمَّا تَرَكَ الْوَلِدَنِ وَالاٌّقْرَبُونَ ( There is a share for men from what is left by parents and those nearest in relation )." Therefore, everyone is equal in Allah's decision to inherit, even though their shares vary according to the degree of their relationship to the deceased, whether being a relative, spouse, etc.
Ibn Marduwyah reported that Jabir said, "Umm Kujjah came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said to him, `O Messenger of Allah! I have two daughters whose father died, and they do not own anything.' So Allah revealed; لِّلرِّجَالِ نَصيِبٌ مِّمَّا تَرَكَ الْوَلِدَنِ وَالاٌّقْرَبُونَ ( There is a share for men from what is left by parents and those nearest in relation. )" We will mention this Hadith when explaining the two Ayat about inheritance.
Allah knows best.
Allah said, وَإِذَا حَضَرَ الْقِسْمَةَ ( are present at the time of division, ) those who do not have a share in the inheritance, وَالْيَتَـمَى وَالْمَسَـكِينُ ( and the orphans and the poor ), are also present upon dividing the inheritance, give them a share of the inheritance.
Al-Bukhari recorded that Ibn `Abbas said that the Ayah, وَإِذَا حَضَرَ الْقِسْمَةَ أُوْلُواْ الْقُرْبَى وَالْيَتَـمَى وَالْمَسَـكِينُ ( And when the relatives and the orphans and the poor are present at the time of division ), was not abrogated.
Ibn Jarir recorded that Ibn `Abbas said that this Ayah still applies and should be implemented.
Ath-Thawri said that Ibn Abi Najih narrated from Mujahid that implementing this Ayah, "Is required from those who have anything to inherit, paid from whatever portions their hearts are satisfied with giving away." Similar explanation was reported from Ibn Mas`ud, Abu Musa, `Abdur-Rahman bin Abi Bakr, Abu Al-`Aliyah, Ash-Sha`bi and Al-Hasan.
Ibn Sirin, Sa`id bin Jubayr, Makhul, Ibrahim An-Nakha`i, `Ata' bin Abi Rabah, Az-Zuhri and Yahya bin Ya`mar said this payment is obligatory.
Others say that this refers to the bequeathal at the time of death.
And others say that it was abrogated.
Al-`Awfi reported that Ibn `Abbas said that this Ayah, وَإِذَا حَضَرَ الْقِسْمَةَ ( And when are present at the time of division ), refers to divisions of inheritance.
So, when poor relatives, who are ineligible for inheritance, orphans, and the poor attend the division of the inheritance, which is sometimes substantial, their hearts will feel eager to have a share, seeing each eligible person assuming his share; while they are desperate, yet are not given anything.
Allah the Most Kind, Most Compassionate, commands that they should have a share in the inheritance as an act of kindness, charity, compassion and mercy for them. Observing Fairness in the Will Allah said, وَلْيَخْشَ الَّذِينَ لَوْ تَرَكُواْ مِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ ( And let those have the same fear in their minds as they would have for their own, if they had left behind... ) `Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn `Abbas said that this part of the Ayah, "Refers to a man who is near death and he dictates a will and testament that harms some of the rightful inheritors.
Allah commands whoever hears such will to fear Allah, and direct the dying man to do what is right and to be fair, being as eager to protect the inheritors of the dying man as he would be with his own." Similar was reported from Mujahid and several others.
The Two Sahihs record that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ visited Sa`d bin Abi Waqqas during an illness he suffered from, Sa`d said to the Messenger, "O Messenger of Allah! I am wealthy and have no inheritors except a daughter.
Should I give two-thirds of my property in charity" He said, "No." Sa`d asked, "Half" He said, "No." Sa`d said, "One-third" The Prophet said; «الثُّلُثُ، وَالثُّلُثُ كَثِير» ( One-third, and even one-third is too much. ) The Messenger of Allah ﷺ then said, «إِنَّكَ أَنْ تَذَرَ وَرَثَتَكَ أَغْنِيَاءَ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَنْ تَذَرَهُمْ عَالَةً يَتَكَفَّفُونَ النَّاس» ( You'd better leave your inheritors wealthy rather than leaving them poor, begging from others. ) A Stern Warning Against Those Who Use Up the Orphan's Wealth It was also said that the Ayah وَلاَ تَأْكُلُوهَآ إِسْرَافاً وَبِدَاراً أَن يَكْبَرُواْ ( consume it not wastefully and hastily, fearing that they should grow up, ) means, let them have Taqwa of Allah when taking care of the orphan's wealth, as Ibn Jarir recorded from Al-`Awfi who reported this explanation from Ibn `Abbas.
This is a sound opinion that is supported by the warning that follows against consuming the orphan's wealth unjustly.
In this case, the meaning becomes: Just as you would want your offspring to be treated fairly after you, then treat other people's offspring fairly when you are given the responsibility of caring for them.
Allah proclaims that those who unjustly consume the wealth of orphans, will be eating fire into their stomach, this is why Allah said, إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَأْكُلُونَ أَمْوَلَ الْيَتَـمَى ظُلْماً إِنَّمَا يَأْكُلُونَ فِى بُطُونِهِمْ نَاراً وَسَيَصْلَوْنَ سَعِيراً ( Verily, those who unjustly eat up the property of orphans, they eat up only a fire into their bellies, and they will be burnt in the blazing Fire! ) meaning, when you consume the orphan's wealth without a right, then you are only consuming fire, which will kindle in your stomach on the Day of Resurrection.
It is recorded in the Two Sahihs that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «اجْتَنِبُوا السَّبْعَ الْمُوبِقَات» ( Avoid the seven great destructive sins.
) The people asked, "O Allah's Messenger! What are they" He said, «الشِّرْكُ بِاللهِ، وَالسِّحْرُ، وَقَتْلُ النَّفْسِ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللهُ إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ، وَأَكْلُ الرِّبَا، وَأَكْلُ مَالِ الْيَتِيمِ، وَالتَّوَلِّي يَوْمَ الزَّحْفِ، وَقَذْفُ الْمُحْصَنَاتِ الْمُؤْمِنَاتِ الْغَافِلَات» ( To join others in worship along with Allah, magic, to kill the life which Allah has forbidden except for a just cause, to consume interest, to consume an orphan's property, to turn your back to the enemy and flee from the battlefield at the time of fighting, and to accuse chaste women who never even think of anything harmful to their chastity being good believers. )

Allah then mentioned the share of men and women in inheritance-because they were not in the habit of giving any inheritance to women and children-saying: ( Unto the men (of a family ) belongeth a share of that which parents and near kindred leave, and unto the women a share of that which parents and near kindred leave, whether it is a little or much) whether the inheritance is much or little ( a legal share ) a determined share whether it is much or little, but He did not specify these shares. Allah did expound consequently on the exact value of these shares. This verse was revealed about Umm Kuhhah and her daughters who had an uncle who did not give them anything from their inheritance.

There is a share for men and a share for women from what is left by parents and those nearest related, whether, the property be small or large - a legal share.

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