The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 2) — Page 299
PT. 6 AN-NISA' CH. 4 E أُخْتٌ فَلَهَا نِصْفُ مَا تَرَكَ وَهُوَ Kalalah': If a man dies leaving no child and he has a sister, then يَرِثُهَا إِن لَّمْ يَكُنْ لَّهَا وَلَدٌ فَإِنْ كَانَتَا she shall have half of what he leaves; and he shall inherit her b اثْنَتَيْنِ فَلَهُمَا القُدُثْنِ مِمَّا تَرَكَ if she has no child. But if there وَإِنْ كَانُوا إِخْوَةً رِجَالًا وَنِسَاء فَلِلذَّكَرِ be two sisters, then they shall have two-thirds of what he مِثْلُ حَظِّ الْأُنْثَيَيْن يُبَيِّنُ اللهُ لَكُمْ leaves. And if the heirs be أَن تَضِلُّوْا وَاللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيْمٌ brethren both men b and women then the male shall have as much as the portion of two females. Allah explains this to you lest you go astray, and Allah knows all things well. 639 "4:12. b4:27. 639. Important Words: For the meaning of the word a see 4:13. Commentary: N, (child) means, child or children whether male or female, but as a (kalālah) means, one having no child and no parent, the words №, ), (and neither parent) may be taken as being understood after the words W, a The word (lit. two) here means two or more sisters. This meaning is supported by a verdict of the Holy Prophet in which he applied this verse to the case of Jābir who died, leaving seven sisters (Jarīr, vi. 24). The word (brethren) here includes sisters and brothers both, as the words (both men and women), forming case in apposition with indicate. 739 This verse, placed as it is in between the verses dealing with the Christians and their false doctrines, appears to be rather misplaced. But as the following note will show, it is very fittingly placed here, furnishing a striking proof of the Quran as well as its present arrangement being the work of God. In 4:13 mention was made of one kind of Kalālah (one who leaves behind neither a parent nor an offspring) who had brothers and sisters from the side of his mother only. The present verse refers to a Kalālah who has brothers and sisters from both his parents, or from the side of his father only. By comparing the verse under comment with 4:13 it becomes clear that for obvious reasons the share allotted to the former class of brothers and sisters is