Quran Reflection -- Verses of Inheritance in Surah An-Nisaa'

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate

The Quran is meant to cater to all situations. In Surah An-Nisaa' the laws of domestic affairs are laid down (family law, marriage, mahr, divorce, inheritance, gatherings, taking care of orphans, rights of people). The main theme of the Surah is to strengthen the ties within the family and extended family (society) and to make sure the bonds are strong.

How will you decide how much to leave your parents and how much to leave your children when you die. You love and care for all of them. Are you even capable of making the right decision in this regard--who should get more and who should get less? The verses of inheritance (Verses 11, 12, 176) is so precise and so beautiful that we don't have to worry about it. Just follow. Allah Most Knowing, Most Wise says,

ءَابَآؤُكُمْ وَأَبْنَآؤُكُمْ لَا تَدْرُونَ أَيُّهُمْ أَقْرَبُ لَكُمْ نَفْعًا ۚ فَرِيضَةً مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا
﴿١١﴾

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. [Quran, An-Nisaa' 4:11]

We are told explicitly to not challenge Allah's wisdom -- what Allah has sent down or what the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam has said. Allah All Knowing says,

وَلَا تَتَمَنَّوْا۟ مَا فَضَّلَ ٱللَّهُ بِهِۦ بَعْضَكُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ ۚ لِّلرِّجَالِ نَصِيبٌ مِّمَّا ٱكْتَسَبُوا۟ ۖ وَلِلنِّسَآءِ نَصِيبٌ مِّمَّا ٱكْتَسَبْنَ ۚ وَسْـَٔلُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مِن فَضْلِهِۦٓ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمًا ﴿٣٢﴾

And do not wish for that by which Allah has made some of you exceed others. For men is a share of what they have earned, and for women is a share of what they have earned. And ask Allah of his bounty. Indeed Allah is ever, of all things, Knowing. [Quran, An-Nisaa' 4:32]

In the times of the sahabah when the verses of mirath were revealed, the sahabah asked the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam why the female's share is half of male's share of inheritance because before Islam women share nothing of the inheritance and in fact the women were inherited in cases when their husbands died. In modern times, the women asked why they only get half. The verses are still the same but the culture has changed.

True iman is to be brave enough to challenge our culture before challenging the Quran.

May Allah help us strengthen our ties of kinship. May Allah bring peace to the Ummah. Aameen.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.

And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.

Wassalaam