۞ وَلَكُمْ نِصْفُ مَا تَرَكَ أَزْوَٰجُكُمْ إِن لَّمْ يَكُن لَّهُنَّ وَلَدٌ ۚ فَإِن كَانَ لَهُنَّ وَلَدٌ فَلَكُمُ ٱلرُّبُعُ مِمَّا تَرَكْنَ ۚ مِنۢ بَعْدِ وَصِيَّةٍ يُوصِينَ بِهَآ أَوْ دَيْنٍ ۚ وَلَهُنَّ ٱلرُّبُعُ مِمَّا تَرَكْتُمْ إِن لَّمْ يَكُن لَّكُمْ وَلَدٌ ۚ فَإِن كَانَ لَكُمْ وَلَدٌ فَلَهُنَّ ٱلثُّمُنُ مِمَّا تَرَكْتُم ۚ مِّنۢ بَعْدِ وَصِيَّةٍ تُوصُونَ بِهَآ أَوْ دَيْنٍ ۗ وَإِن كَانَ رَجُلٌ يُورَثُ كَلَـٰلَةً أَوِ ٱمْرَأَةٌ وَلَهُۥٓ أَخٌ أَوْ أُخْتٌ فَلِكُلِّ وَٰحِدٍ مِّنْهُمَا ٱلسُّدُسُ ۚ فَإِن كَانُوٓا۟ أَكْثَرَ مِن ذَٰلِكَ فَهُمْ شُرَكَآءُ فِى ٱلثُّلُثِ ۚ مِنۢ بَعْدِ وَصِيَّةٍ يُوصَىٰ بِهَآ أَوْ دَيْنٍ غَيْرَ مُضَآرٍّ ۚ وَصِيَّةً مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَلِيمٌ 12
Translations
And for you is half of what your wives leave if they have no child. But if they have a child, for you is one fourth of what they leave, after any bequest they [may have] made or debt. And for them [i.e., the wives] is one fourth if you leave no child. But if you leave a child, then for them is an eighth of what you leave, after any bequest you [may have] made or debt. And if a man or woman leaves neither ascendants nor descendants but has a brother or a sister, then for each one of them is a sixth. But if they are more than two, they share a third, after any bequest which was made or debt, as long as there is no detriment [caused]. [This is] an ordinance from Allāh, and Allāh is Knowing and Forbearing.
Transliteration
Wa lakum nisfu maa taraka azwajukum in lam yakun lahunna waladun fa-in kana lahunna waladun falakumu ar-rubu mimma tarakna min ba'da wasiyyatin yusin biha aw dayn wa lahunna ar-rubu mimma taraktum in lam yakun lakum waladun fa-in kana lakum waladun falahunna ath-thumunu mimma taraktum min ba'da wasiyyatin tusin biha aw dayn wa-in kana rajulun yuwarrastu kalaalatan awi imraatun wa lahu akhun aw ukhtun falikusli wahidin minhumaa as-sudus fa-in kanu akthara min dhalika fahum shuraka-u fit-thuluhi min ba'da wasiyyatin yusa biha aw dayn ghayra mudarrin wasiyyatan minallah wallahu alimun halim
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah details the shares of spouses in inheritance when there are no children versus when children exist. For husbands: half the estate if the wife has no children, one-quarter if she has children; for wives: one-quarter if the husband has no children, one-eighth if he has children. The ayah also addresses inheritance for collateral heirs (those without direct descendants or ascendants), where a brother or sister receives one-sixth, or if multiple siblings, they share one-third equally. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari emphasize these are precise divine allocations that balance the rights of spouses and relatives while ensuring no one is deprived.
Revelation Context
Surah An-Nisa was revealed in Madinah during the period of establishing Islamic jurisprudence and social order. This specific ayah addresses inheritance laws in a newly formed Islamic society, building upon earlier Quranic injunctions about inheritance and reflecting the Islamic principle of ordered distribution of wealth based on kinship and marital relationships.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Give the shares to those entitled to them according to Allah's Book (the Quran)' - reported in Sahih Bukhari. Additionally, 'Whoever kills himself will never enter Paradise' (Sahih Muslim) relates to the prohibition of harming heirs through inappropriate bequests mentioned in this ayah's condition of 'ghayra mudarr' (not causing harm).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah demonstrates Islam's comprehensive approach to social justice by establishing clear, equitable inheritance rules that protect spouses and relatives while preventing disputes and family discord. Modern believers should recognize these shares as divinely ordained protections for vulnerable family members and understand that Islamic law balances individual ownership with familial obligation and communal welfare.