What do we understand from Allah’s Words ‘after the fulfilment of bequests and debts’ in the verses about inheritance?
ما الحكم المستفاد من قوله تعالى “من بعد وصية يوصي بها أو دين” في آيات الميراث؟
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.
تؤسس آيات الميراث ترتيباً زمنياً صارماً لتسوية تركة المسلم المتوفى، حيث تعطي الأولوية لحقوق الدائنين على حقوق الورثة.
The Sequence of Estate Distribution | ترتيب توزيع التركة
1. Payment of Debts
Allah ordered that if a person dies, his debts must be paid before distributing the estate.
1. قضاء الديون
ذلك لأن الله تعالى أمر أن يقضى الدين قبل تقسيم التركة.
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.
2. تنفيذ الوصية
ثم إذا كان المتوفى قد كتب الوصية فيجب أن تنفذ في المرحلة الثانية بعد دفع الدين.
3. Distribution to Heirs
The remaining estate is distributed according to sharia rules.
3. التوزيع على الورثة
وما تبقى من المال توزع حسب القواعد الشرعية.
The Quranic Verses | الآيات القرآنية
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.)
(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 ﴾
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.)
(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
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
Why does the Quran mention the bequest before the debt if the debt is paid first?
Scholars explain that creditors will actively demand their debts, ensuring they are paid. However, a bequest is a voluntary gift that heirs might easily ignore or neglect. Allah mentioned the bequest first to emphasize its importance and warn heirs not to discard it.
Can a person bequeath their entire estate to charity?
No. In Islamic law, a bequest (will) cannot exceed one third of the total estate after debts are paid. The remaining two thirds must be distributed to the rightful heirs to protect their family rights.
What happens if the deceased's debts are larger than their entire estate?
If the debts exceed the estate, the entire estate is used to pay off the creditors proportionately. In this case, there will be no bequest executed and no inheritance distributed to the heirs.