Juz 6: An-Nisāʾ 148 to Al-Māʾidah 81
Section 9 of 16 · Tafsir of the Qur’an · Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
8. Inheritance Laws
The final verse of Surah An-Nisa returns to the theme of inheritance that gives the surah its name ("The Women"). This verse addresses specific inheritance scenarios that were not covered in the earlier verses on inheritance.
يَسْتَفْتُونَكَ قُلِ اللَّهُ يُفْتِيكُمْ فِي الْكَلَالَةِ ۚ إِنِ امْرُؤٌ هَلَكَ لَيْسَ لَهُ وَلَدٌ وَلَهُ أُخْتٌ فَلَهَا نِصْفُ مَا تَرَكَ ۚ وَهُوَ يَرِثُهَا إِن لَّمْ يَكُن لَّهَا وَلَدٌ ۚ فَإِن كَانَتَا اثْنَتَيْنِ فَلَهُمَا الثُّلُثَانِ مِمَّا تَرَكَ ۚ وَإِن كَانُوا إِخْوَةً رِّجَالًا وَنِسَاءً فَلِلذَّكَرِ مِثْلُ حَظِّ الْأُنثَيَيْنِ ۗ يُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ أَن تَضِلُّوا ۗ وَاللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ
“They seek your ruling. Say, "Allah gives you the ruling concerning Kalālah (the person who has neither ascendants nor descendants at the time of death). If a man dies, having no child, but he has a sister, she will have half of what he left, and he will be her heir if she has no child. If they are two (sisters), they will have two-thirds of what he left. If they are brothers and sisters, male and female, the male will have a share equal to that of two females." Allah explains to you, lest you should go astray. Allah has full knowledge of everything.”
This verse addresses the inheritance of a kalālah – a person who dies leaving neither parents nor children. The term is significant in Islamic inheritance law, as it refers to a specific situation where the deceased's siblings become the primary heirs.
The ruling provides several scenarios:
- If a man dies leaving only one sister, she receives half of his estate
- If a man 9. Introduction to Surah Al-Ma'idah
Surah Al-Ma'idah (The Table Spread) marks the beginning of the sixth part of the Qur'an, continuing from where Surah An-Nisa concluded. This surah holds a significant place in the chronology of Qur'anic revelation, as it is among the final surahs revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). According to some scholarly opinions, including a narration from Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), it may have been the very last complete surah revealed.
Al-Ma'idah derives its name from the incident of a divine food spread that Allah (swt) sent down for the disciples of Prophet Isa (peace be upon him), which will be discussed in the subsequent part of the Qur'an. The term "ma'idah" refers to a spread of food, whether served on a raised table or placed directly on the ground, as was common in Arabian custom.
As a Medinan surah revealed during the latter period of the Prophet's mission, Al-Ma'idah contains numerous legal rulings (ahkam) that govern various aspects of Islamic life. Importantly, none of the eighteen legal commands in this surah have been abrogated, making them permanently binding upon the Muslim ummah until the Day of Judgment.
The surah begins with a powerful command that encapsulates the essence of Islamic moral conduct:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَوْفُوا بِالْعُقُودِ
“O you who believe, fulfill the contracts." (5:1)”
This verse establishes the fundamental principle of honoring commitments and fulfilling obligations, whether they be with Allah (swt) or with fellow human beings. The term 'uqūd (contracts) encompasses all forms of agreements, covenants, and promises that a believer makes. This principle forms the cornerstone of Islamic ethics and serves as the foundation for all social, economic, and political interactions.
Surah Al-Ma'idah continues the themes introduced in Surah An-Nisa but places greater emphasis on the relationship between Muslims and the People of the Book (Jews and Christians). It presents detailed accounts of historical events involving previous prophets and their communities, particularly focusing on the children of Israel (Bani Israel) and the followers of Prophet Isa (peace be upon him).
The timing of this surah's revelation is significant, as it came during a period when the Islamic state in Medina had become well-established, and interactions with Jewish and Christian communities had intensified. The Muslims were now dealing with complex questions related to interfaith relations, dietary laws, and legal matters. Al-Ma'idah provides comprehensive guidance on these issues, ensuring that the Muslim ummah would have clear direction even after the Prophet's passing.
The surah further reinforces the completion of Allah's favor upon the believers through the perfection of the religion of Islam, as mentioned in verse 3:
الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الْإِسْلَامَ دِينًا
“Today, I have perfected your religion for you, and have completed My blessing upon you, and chosen Islam as Dīn (religion and a way of life) for you." (5:3)”
This verse was revealed during the Farewell Pilgrimage of the Prophet (peace be upon him), approximately one year before his passing. It marks a pivotal moment in Islamic history, signifying that the essentials of the faith had been fully established and no further fundamental additions would be made to the religion.
The historical significance of this verse was recognized even by contemporaries outside the Muslim community. It is reported that when a Jewish man in Medina heard about this revelation, he remarked to Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) that had such a verse been revealed to the Jews, they would have designated that day as an annual celebration. Umar responded by noting that he knew precisely when and where this verse was revealed – on the Day of Arafah, which fell on a Friday – making it doubly blessed for Muslims.