What Do Allah's Words 'After Bequests and Debts' Mean in the Inheritance Verses?
ما الحكم المستفاد من قوله تعالى "من بعد وصية يوصي بها أو دين" في آيات الميراث؟
What do we understand from Allah’s Words ‘after the fulfilment of bequests and debts’ in the verses about inheritance?
The answer explains the order the verses set: the debts of the deceased are paid first, then his bequest is carried out, and what remains is divided among the heirs according to the shares of the Sharia. It quotes An-Nisa 4:11-12.
The verses of inheritance establish a strict chronological order for settling the estate of a deceased Muslim, prioritizing the rights of creditors over the rights of heirs.
The Sequence of Estate Distribution
1. Payment of Debts
Allah ordered that if a person dies, his debts must be paid before distributing the estate.
2. Execution of the Will
Then, if the deceased has written a will, it must be carried out in the second phase after payment of the debt.
3. Distribution to Heirs
The remaining estate is distributed according to sharia rules.
The Quranic Verses
Surah An Nisa 4:11
(Allah commands you regarding your children: the share of the male will be twice that of the female. If you leave only two or more females, their share is two thirds of the estate. But if there is only one female, her share will be one half. Each parent is entitled to one sixth if you leave offspring. But if you are childless and your parents are the only heirs, then your mother will receive one third. But if you leave siblings, then your mother will receive one sixth, after the fulfilment of bequests and debts. Be fair to your parents and children, as you do not fully know who is more beneficial to you. This is an obligation from Allah. Surely Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.)
Surah An Nisa 4:12
(You will inherit half of what your wives leave if they are childless. But if they have children, then your share is one fourth of the estate, after the fulfilment of bequests and debts. And your wives will inherit one fourth of what you leave if you are childless. But if you have children, then your wives will receive one eighth of your estate, after the fulfilment of bequests and debts. And if a man or a woman leaves neither parents nor children but only a brother or a sister from their mother’s side, they will each inherit one sixth, but if they are more than one, they all will share one third of the estate, after the fulfilment of bequests and debts without harm to the heirs. This is a commandment from Allah. And Allah is All-Knowing, Most Forbearing.)
ما الحكم المستفاد من قوله تعالى “من بعد وصية يوصي بها أو دين” في آيات الميراث؟
يبين الجواب الترتيب الذي قررته الآيات: يقضى دين الميت أولا، ثم تنفذ وصيته، ثم يقسم الباقي على الورثة وفق الأنصبة الشرعية، ويستدل بآيتي النساء 4:11-12.
تؤسس آيات الميراث ترتيباً زمنياً صارماً لتسوية تركة المسلم المتوفى، حيث تعطي الأولوية لحقوق الدائنين على حقوق الورثة.
ترتيب توزيع التركة
1. قضاء الديون
ذلك لأن الله تعالى أمر أن يقضى الدين قبل تقسيم التركة.
2. تنفيذ الوصية
ثم إذا كان المتوفى قد كتب الوصية فيجب أن تنفذ في المرحلة الثانية بعد دفع الدين.
3. التوزيع على الورثة
وما تبقى من المال يوزع حسب القواعد الشرعية.
الآيات القرآنية
(يُوصِيكُمُ اللَّهُ فِي أَوْلَادِكُمْ ۖ لِلذَّكَرِ مِثْلُ حَظِّ الْأُنثَيَيْنِ ۚ فَإِن كُنَّ نِسَاءً فَوْقَ اثْنَتَيْنِ فَلَهُنَّ ثُلُثَا مَا تَرَكَ ۖ وَإِن كَانَتْ وَاحِدَةً فَلَهَا النِّصْفُ ۚ وَلِأَبَوَيْهِ لِكُلِّ وَاحِدٍ مِّنْهُمَا السُّدُسُ مِمَّا تَرَكَ إِن كَانَ لَهُ وَلَدٌ ۚ فَإِن لَّمْ يَكُن لَّهُ وَلَدٌ وَوَرِثَهُ أَبَوَاهُ فَلِأُمِّهِ الثُّلُثُ ۚ فَإِن كَانَ لَهُ إِخْوَةٌ فَلِأُمِّهِ السُّدُسُ ۚ مِن بَعْدِ وَصِيَّةٍ يُوصِي بِهَا أَوْ دَيْنٍ ۗ آبَاؤُكُمْ وَأَبْنَاؤُكُمْ لَا تَدْرُونَ أَيُّهُمْ أَقْرَبُ لَكُمْ نَفْعًا ۚ فَرِيضَةً مِّنَ اللَّهِ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا)
(وَلَكُمْ نِصْفُ مَا تَرَكَ أَزْوَاجُكُمْ إِن لَّمْ يَكُن لَّهُنَّ وَلَدٌ ۚ فَإِن كَانَ لَهُنَّ وَلَدٌ فَلَكُمُ الرُّبُعُ مِمَّا تَرَكْنَ ۚ مِن بَعْدِ وَصِيَّةٍ يُوصِينَ بِهَا أَوْ دَيْنٍ ۚ وَلَهُنَّ الرُّبُعُ مِمَّا تَرَكْتُمْ إِن لَّمْ يَكُن لَّكُمْ وَلَدٌ ۚ فَإِن كَانَ لَكُمْ وَلَدٌ فَلَهُنَّ الثُّمُنُ مِمَّا تَرَكْتُم ۚ مِّن بَعْدِ وَصِيَّةٍ تُوصُونَ بِهَا أَوْ دَيْنٍ ۗ وَإِن كَانَ رَجُلٌ يُورَثُ كَلَالَةً أَوِ امْرَأَةٌ وَلَهُ أَخٌ أَوْ أُخْتٌ فَلِكُلِّ وَاحِدٍ مِّنْهُمَا السُّدُسُ ۚ فَإِن كَانُوا أَكْثَرَ مِن ذَٰلِكَ فَهُمْ شُرَكَاءُ فِي الثُّلُثِ ۚ مِن بَعْدِ وَصِيَّةٍ يُوصَىٰ بِهَا أَوْ دَيْنٍ غَيْرَ مُضَارٍّ ۚ وَصِيَّةً مِّنَ اللَّهِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَلِيمٌ) النساء 4: 11 إلى 12
1. Debts Come First | الدين مقدم
Ali reported that the Prophet ruled that debts are paid before the bequest, and al-Tirmidhi notes that most scholars act on this (Jami at-Tirmidhi 2122, graded hasan by al-Albani); al-Qurtubi describes the priority of debt as agreed upon. The Prophet once declined to pray over a man who had died owing three dinars until Abu Qatadah undertook to pay the debt (Sahih al-Bukhari 2289).
إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَن تُؤَدُّوا الْأَمَانَاتِ إِلَىٰ أَهْلِهَا (سورة النساء: 58)
روى علي رضي الله عنه أن النبي ﷺ قضى بالدين قبل الوصية، وذكر الترمذي أن العمل على هذا عند عامة أهل العلم (جامع الترمذي 2122، حسنه الألباني)، ووصف القرطبي تقديم الدين على الوصية بأنه بإجماع. وامتنع النبي ﷺ من الصلاة على رجل مات وعليه ثلاثة دنانير حتى تكفل أبو قتادة بدينه (صحيح البخاري 2289).
2. A Bequest Within One Third | الوصية في حدود الثلث
When Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas wished to bequeath most of his wealth, the Prophet allowed a third and said that a third is a lot, and that leaving one's heirs rich is better than leaving them dependent on others (Sahih al-Bukhari 2742). He also said that Allah has given every rightful person his due, so there is no bequest for an heir (Sunan Abi Dawud 2870, graded hasan sahih by al-Albani). The verse itself requires that the bequest cause no harm to the heirs (An-Nisa 4:12).
مِن بَعْدِ وَصِيَّةٍ يُوصَىٰ بِهَا أَوْ دَيْنٍ غَيْرَ مُضَارٍّ (سورة النساء: 12)
لما أراد سعد بن أبي وقاص أن يوصي بأكثر ماله أذن له النبي ﷺ في الثلث وقال: "الثلث، والثلث كثير، إنك أن تدع ورثتك أغنياء خير من أن تدعهم عالة يتكففون الناس" (صحيح البخاري 2742). وقال ﷺ: "إن الله قد أعطى كل ذي حق حقه فلا وصية لوارث" (سنن أبي داود 2870، قال الألباني: حسن صحيح). واشترطت الآية ألا تكون الوصية مضارة للورثة (النساء 4:12).
3. Why the Bequest Is Mentioned First | لماذا قدمت الوصية في الذكر
Al-Qurtubi gives several answers: the verse means to place both before the inheritance, not to order them between themselves; the bequest is less binding than a debt, so it is mentioned first to stress it; it is the share of the poor and the weak, while a creditor demands his debt with strength and authority; and the word or shows that a debt may or may not exist, while a bequest is common.
مِن بَعْدِ وَصِيَّةٍ يُوصِي بِهَا أَوْ دَيْنٍ (سورة النساء: 11)
ذكر القرطبي في ذلك أجوبة: أن المقصود تقديم الأمرين على الميراث لا ترتيبهما في أنفسهما، وأن الوصية لما كانت أقل لزوما من الدين قدمت اهتماما بها، وأنها حظ مساكين وضعفاء والدين حظ غريم يطلبه بقوة وسلطان، وأن العطف بأو يدل على أن الدين قد يكون وقد لا يكون، أما الوصية فكثيرة الوقوع.
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
Why does the Quran mention the bequest before the debt if the debt is paid first?
Al-Qurtubi gives several answers. One is that the bequest is the share of the poor and the weak and could be neglected, while a creditor demands his debt with strength, so the bequest is mentioned first to stress it.
Can a person bequeath their entire estate to charity?
No. The Prophet allowed Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas a third and said that a third is a lot (Sahih al-Bukhari 2742), and he said that there is no bequest for an heir (Sunan Abi Dawud 2870, graded hasan sahih by al-Albani).
What happens if the deceased's debts are larger than their entire estate?
The estate is used to pay the creditors in proportion to their debts. In that case no bequest is carried out and nothing is left for the heirs.
How seriously did the Prophet treat a debt left after death?
He declined to pray over a man who died owing three dinars until Abu Qatadah undertook to pay it (Sahih al-Bukhari 2289), and he said that a believer's soul is held back by his debt until it is paid (Jami at-Tirmidhi 1078, graded sahih by al-Albani).