SECTION ON INHERITANCE · 6 – THE GRANDFATHER'S SHARE IN INHERITANCE
Imran ibn Husayn, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated:
A man came to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and asked, “My grandson has died; what is my share from his inheritance?”
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "You have one-sixth."
The man turned around, and the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, called him back and said, "There is another one-sixth for you.” When the man turned again, he (the Prophet) called him back. “And a final one-sixth has been given to you as sustenance.”
Katadah said: The companions did not know with whom the deceased’s heir shared the one-sixth inheritance. The least share that an ancestor is entitled to from the inheritance is one-sixth. [598]
EXPLANATION:
The clarification of the matter: If a person dies, leaving two daughters and a grandfather, then the grandfather takes one-sixth of the estate as his share. Two-thirds are given to the daughters. Since the grandfather is an *asib* (relative who inherits alongside others), another one-sixth is given to him. Then, the final one-sixth given to him is not part of his share but has been given to him as sustenance. Indeed, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, specifically explained that it was given to him because he is an *asib* so that it would not be thought that the latter portion was also part of his inheritance.
It is related from Hasan al-Basri, may Allah be pleased with him:
‘Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, said to the companions:
“Who among you knows what share the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, gave to a grandfather?”
Ma’kul ibn Yasar said, “I know. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, gave the grandfather one-sixth.”
‘Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, said:
“With whom among the heirs did He give the one-sixth?”
Ma’kul said, “I do not know.”
‘Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “Since you do not know, your knowledge does not resolve our matter.” [599]