SECTION ON INHERITANCE · 3 – THE INHERITANCE OF A PERSON WHO HAS NO CHILDREN BUT HAS SISTERS
2887 – It is narrated from Jābir (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: I fell ill, and I had seven sisters with me. The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) came to visit me. (I had fainted) and he blew upon my face, and I regained consciousness. I said: “O Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him), shall I bequeath a third of my wealth to my sisters?” The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Be more generous.” I said: “Shall I bequeath half?” The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Do good.” He left me and departed. The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “O Jābir, I do not think you will die from this illness of yours. Indeed, Allah has revealed a verse (āya) clarifying the share of your sisters. He has made their share two-thirds.” Zubayr said: Jābir used to say: “When someone asks you for a legal ruling, say: ‘Allah gives you a ruling concerning the inheritance of one who has neither children nor (a father),’” and that this verse was revealed about me.
2888 – It is narrated from Barāʾ ibn ʿĀzib (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: The last verse revealed was about the one who has neither children nor (a father): “They ask you for a legal ruling. Say: Allah gives you a ruling concerning one who has no children.” (Meaning: Sūrat al-Nisāʾ, verse 176.) [592]
2889 – It is narrated from Barāʾ ibn ʿĀzib (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: A man came to the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: O Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him), what is the meaning of "kalāla" in the verse, “They ask you for a legal ruling concerning kalāla”? The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “The verse revealed at the end of Sūrat al-Nisāʾ during the summer concerning kalāla is sufficient for you (for legal ruling).” I asked Abū Isḥāq: Is kalāla the one who dies leaving neither children nor a father? Abū Isḥāq said: Yes, and others have also given this ruling. [593]
EXPLANATION
This hadith was also recorded by al-Tirmidhī. In another version, it is stated: “Kalāla is the one who dies leaving no children or grandchildren.” If a person dies childless and leaves a single sister as an heir, she receives half of the inheritance. If there are two sisters, they receive two-thirds of the inheritance. If a woman dies childless and her only heir is a single brother, he receives the entire inheritance. If there is a brother and a sister, the brother receives two shares and the sister one share.