أول ما نستفتح المقالا — Abn Almtfnna

أوَّلُ مَا نَستَفتِحُ المَقَالا

بِذِكرِ حَمدِ رَبِّنَا تَعَالَى

The first thing with which we open our discourse

is remembrance of the praise of our Lord, Most High.

فَالحَمدُ للّهِ عَلَى مَا أنعمَا

حَمداً بِهِ يَجلُو عَنِ القَلبِ العَمى

Praise belongs to God for what He has bestowed,

a praise through which He clears blindness from the heart.

ثُمَّ الصَّلاةُ بَعدُ وَالسَّلامُ

عَلَى نَبِيٍّ دِينُهُ الإِسلامُ

Then come blessings and peace

upon a prophet whose religion is Islam:

مُحَمَّدٍ خاتَمِ رُسلِ رَبِّهِ

وآلِهِ مِن بَعدِهِ وَصَحبِهِ

Muhammad, the seal of his Lord's messengers,

and upon his family after him, and his companions.

وَنَسألُ اللهَ لَنَا الإِعَانَه

فِيما تَوَخَّينَا مِنَ الإبَانَه

We ask God to grant us assistance

in the explanation we have undertaken

عَن مَذهَبِ الإِمَامِ زَيدِ الفَرَضِي

إذ كَانَ ذَاكَ مِن أهَمِّ الغَرَضِ

of the doctrine of Imam Zayd, the inheritance scholar,

since that is among our foremost aims,

عِلماً بأَنَّ العِلمَ خَيرُ مَا سُعِي

فِيهِ وأولَى مَالَهُ العَبدُ دُعِي

knowing that knowledge is the best thing pursued

and the worthiest thing to which a servant is called;

وَأنَّ هذَا العِلمَ مَخصُوصٌ بِمَا

قَد شَاعَ فِيه عِندَ كُلِّ العُلَمَا

and that this knowledge has the distinction

widely recognized among all scholars:

بِأَنَّهُ أوَّلُ عِلمٍ يُفقَدُ

فِي الأرضِ حَتَّى لا يَكادُ يُوجَدُ

that it is the first branch of knowledge to disappear

from the earth, until it can scarcely be found;

وَأنَّ زَيداً خُصَّ لا مَحَالَه

بِمَا حَبَاهُ خاتَمُ الرِّسَالَه

and that Zayd was unquestionably singled out

by what the seal of the prophetic message bestowed upon him:

مِن قَولِهِ في فَضلِهِ مُنَبِّهَا

أفرَضُكُم زَيدٌ وَنَاهِيكَ بِهَا

his statement drawing attention to Zayd's excellence,

'Your most learned in inheritance is Zayd'—and that suffices.

فَكانَ أولَى بِاتبَاعِ التَّابِعِي

لا سِيَّما وَقَد نَحَاهُ الشَّافِعِي

Thus he was most deserving of a follower's adherence,

especially since al-Shafi‘i followed his approach.

فَهَاكَ فِيِه القَولَ عَن إِيجَازِ

مُبَرَّأ عَن وَصمَةِ الأَلغَازِ

So take this concise account of it,

free of the blemish of riddles.

أسبَابُ مِيرَاثِ الوَرَى ثَلاَثَه

كُلٌّ يُفِيدُ رَبَّهُ الوِرَاثَه

The grounds for people's inheritance are three;

each grants its holder the right to inherit.

وَهيَ نِكاحٌ وَوَلاءٌ وَنَسَب

مَا بَعدَهُنَّ لِلمَوَارِيثِ سَبَب

They are marriage, the bond of manumission, and kinship;

beyond them there is no ground for inheritance.

وَيمنَعُ الشَّخصَ مِنَ المِيرَاثِ

وَاحِدَةٌ من عِلَلٍ ثَلاثِ

A person is barred from inheritance

by any one of three impediments:

رِقٌّ وَقَتلٌ وَاختِلافُ دِينِ

فَافهَم فَليسَ الشَّكُّ كَاليَقِينِ

slavery, killing, and difference of religion.

Understand, for doubt is not like certainty.

وَالوَارِثُونَ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ عَشَرَه

أسمَاؤُهُم مَعرُوفَةٌ مُشتَهِرَه

The male heirs are ten;

their names are known and well established:

الابنُ وَابنُ الإبنِ مَهمَا نَزَلا

والأَبُ والجَدُّ لَهُ وَإن عَلا

the son and the son's son, however far the line descends;

the father and his grandfather, however high the line ascends;

والأخُ مِن أيِّ الجِهَاتِ كَانَا

قَد أنزَلََ اللهُ بِهِ القُرآنا

the brother, whichever side he comes from—

God has revealed the Qur'an concerning him;

وَابنُ الأخِ المُدلِي إلَيهِ بِالأَبِ

فَاسمَع مَقَالاً لَيسَ بِالمُكَذَّبِ

the son of a brother connected through the father—

so hear an account that is not to be denied;

والعَمُّ وَابنُ العَمِّ مِن أَبِيهِ

فَاشكُر لِذِي الإِيجَازِ وَالتَنيِه

the paternal uncle and the uncle's son on his father's side—

so thank the one offering brevity and instruction;

وَالزَّوجُ والمُعتِقُ ذُو الوَلاء

فَجُملَة الذُّكُورِ هؤُلاءِ

the husband and the manumitter possessing the bond of patronage.

These are all the male heirs.

وَالوارِثَاتُ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ سَبعُ

لَم يُعطِ أُنثى غَيرَهُنَّ الشَّرعُ

The female heirs are seven;

the sacred law grants no other woman a share:

بِنتٌ وَبِنتُ ابنٍ وأُمٌّ مُشفِقَه

وزَوجَةٌ وَجَدَّةٌ وَمُعتِقَه

a daughter, a son's daughter, and a caring mother;

a wife, a grandmother, and a female manumitter;

وَالأختُ مِن أيِّ الجِهَاتِ كانَت

فهذِهِ عِدَّتُهُنَّ بَانَت

and a sister, whichever side she comes from.

Thus their number has become clear.

وَاعلَم بِأنَّ الإرثَ نَوعَانِ هُمَا

فَرضٌ وَتَصِيبٌ عَلَى مَا قُسِما

Know that inheritance is of two kinds:

fixed shares and residuary inheritance, as it is divided.

فالفَرضُ في نَصِّ الكِتَابِ سِتَّه

لا فَرضَ في الإِرثِ سِوَاهَا البَتَّه

The fixed shares in the Book's text are six;

there are absolutely no other fixed inheritance shares:

نِصفٌ وَرُبعٌ ثُمَّ نِصفُ الرُّبعِ

وَالثُّلثُ وَالسُّدسُ بِنَصِّ الشَّرعِ

one-half, one-quarter, then half a quarter;

one-third and one-sixth, by the sacred law's text;

وَالثُّلُثَانِ وَهُمَا التَّمامُ

فَاحفَظ فَكُلُّ حَافِظٍ إمَامُ

and two-thirds, which completes the list.

Memorize them, for every one who remembers is a leader.

وَالنِّصفُ فَرضُ خَمسَةٍ أفرَادِ

الزَّوجُ وَالأنثى مِنَ الأَولادِ

One-half is the fixed share of five individual heirs:

the husband and the female among the children;

وَبِنتُ الابنِ عِندَ فَقدِ البنتِ

وَالأختُُ في مَذهَبِ كُلِّ مُفتِي

the son's daughter when there is no daughter;

the sister, according to every mufti;

وَبعدَهَا الأختُ الَّتِي مِنَ الأَبِ

عِندَ انفِرَادِهِنَّ عَن مُعَصِّبِ

and after her, the sister through the father,

when they are without a male who makes them residuaries.

وَالرُّبعُ فَرضُ الزَّوجِ إِن كَانَ مَعَه

مِن وَلَدِ الزَّوجَةِ مَن قَد مَنَعَه

One-quarter is the husband's fixed share when there is with him

a child of the wife who bars him from one-half.

وَهوَ لِكُلِّ زَوجَةٍ أو أكثَرَا

مَع عَدمِ الأولادِ فِيما قُدِّرَا

It also belongs to one wife or several

when there are no children, under the prescribed allocation.

وَذِكرُ أولادِ البَنِينَ يُعتَمَد

حَيثُ اعَتَمدنَا القَولَ في ذِكرِ الوَلَد

The children of sons are also to be included

wherever we speak of a child.

وَالثُّمنُ لِلزَّوجَةِ وَالزَّوجَاتِ

مَعَ البَنِينَ أو مَعَ البَنَاتِ

One-eighth belongs to a wife or wives

when there are sons or daughters,

أو مَعَ أولادِ البَنِينَ فَاعلَمِ

وَلا تظُنَّ الجَمعَ شَرطاً فَافهَمِ

or children of sons—know this.

Do not think plurality is a condition; understand.

وَالثُّلُثَانِ لِلبَنَاتِ جَمعا

مَا زَادَ عَن وَاحِدَةٍ فَسَمعَا

Two-thirds belongs to daughters collectively,

when there is more than one—so listen.

وَهوَ كَذاكَ لِبنَاتِ الابنِ

فَافهَم مَقالِي فَهمَ صَافِي الذِّهنِ

It likewise belongs to sons' daughters;

understand my words with a clear mind.

وَهوَ لِلاختَينِ فَمَا يَزِيدُ

قَضى بِهِ الأحرارُ والعَبِيدُ

It belongs to two sisters or more;

free people and slaves have ruled accordingly.

هذَا إِذَا كُنَّ لأُمٍّ وَأبِ

أو لأبٍ فَاعمَل بِهذَا تُصِبِ

This is when they share a mother and father,

or a father; act on this and you will be right.

وَالثُّلثُ فَرضُ الأُمِّ حَيثُ لاَ وَلَد

وَلا مِنَ الإِخوًَةِ جَمعٌ ذو عَدَد

One-third is the mother's fixed share when there is no child

and no group of siblings numbering more than one,

كَاثنَينِ أَو ثِنتَينِ أَو ثَلاثِ

حُكمُ الذُّكُورِ فِيهِ كَالإِنَاثِ

such as two brothers, two sisters, or three;

the rule for males here is the same as for females.

وَلا ابنُ إبنٍ مَعَهَا أو بِنتُهُ

فَفرضُهَا الثُّلثُ كَمَا بَيَّنتُهُ

Nor is there a son's son with her, or his daughter;

then her fixed share is one-third, as I have explained.

وَإن يَكُن زوجٌ وَأُمٌّ وَأبُ

فَثُلُثُ البَاقِي لَهَا مُرَتَّبُ

If there are a husband, a mother, and a father,

one-third of the remainder is assigned to her.

وَهكَذَا مَع زَوجَةٍ فَصَاعِدَا

فَلا تَكُن عَنِ العُلُومِ قاعِدا

Likewise with one wife or more;

do not remain idle in the pursuit of knowledge.

وَهوَ لِلاثنَينِ أوِ اثنتَينِ

مِن وَلَدِ الأُمِّ بِغَيرِ مَينِ

One-third belongs to two males or two females

among the mother's children, without falsehood.

وَهكَذَا إن كَثُرُوا أو زادُوا

فَمَا لَهُم فِيما سِوَاهُ زَادُ

Likewise if they are numerous or increase in number;

they have no further portion beyond it.

وَيستَوِي الإِنَاثُ وَالذُّكُورُ

فِيهِ كَمَا قَد أوضَحَ المَسطُورُ

Females and males are equal

in it, as the written text has made clear.

وَالسُّدسُ فَرضُ سَبعَةٍ مِنَ العَدَد

أبٍ وَأُمٍّ ثُمَّ بِنتِ ابنِ وَجَد

One-sixth is the fixed share of seven in number:

a father, a mother, then a son's daughter and a grandfather;

وَالأختِ بِنتِ الإبنِ ثُمَّ الجَدَّه

وَوَلَدُ الأُمِّ تَمَامُ العِدَّه

and the sister, the son's daughter [as written], then the grandmother;

and a mother's child completes the count.

فَالأَبُ يَستَحِقُّهُ مَعَ الوَلَد

وَهكَذَا الأُمُّ بِتَنزِيلِ الصَّمَد

The father is entitled to it alongside a child;

likewise the mother, by the revelation of the Eternal Refuge.

وَهكَذَا مَع وَلَدِ الإِبنِ الَّذِي

مَا زَالَ يَقفُو إثرَهُ وَيحتَذِي

Likewise alongside the child of a son who

continues to follow his footsteps and tread his path.

وَهوَ لَهَا أَيضاً مَعَ الإثنَينِ

مِن إخوَةِ المَيتِ فَقِس هذَينِ

It also belongs to her alongside two

of the deceased's siblings; compare these two cases.

وَالجدُّ مِثلُ الأبِ عِندَ فِقَدِه

في حوزِ مَا يُصيبُهُ وَمَدِّهِ

The grandfather is like the father when the latter is absent,

in receiving what falls to him and its increase,

إلاَّ إذَا كَانَ هُنَاكَ إخوَه

لِكَونِهِم في القُربِ وَهوَ إسوَه

except when there are siblings,

because they and he are alike in nearness;

أو أبَوَانِ مَعهُمَا زَوجٌ وَرِث

فَالأُمُّ لِلثُّلثِ مَعَ الجَدِّ تَرِث

or when there are two parents and an inheriting husband:

with the grandfather, the mother inherits one-third.

وَهكَذَا لَيسَ شَبِيهاً بِالأَبِ

في زَوجَةِ المَيتِ وَأُمِّ وَأبِ

Likewise, he is not treated as the father

in the case of the deceased's wife, mother, and father.

وَحُكمُهُ وَحكمُهُم سَيَأتِي

مُكَمَّلَ البَيَانِ في الحَالاتِ

His ruling and theirs will follow,

fully explained for the various circumstances.

وَبِنتُ الابنِ تَأخُذُ السُّدسَ إذَا

كانَت مَعَ البِنتِ مِثَالاً يُحتذَى

The son's daughter takes one-sixth when

she is with a daughter—a model to follow.

وَهكَذَا الأُختُ مَعَ الأُختِ الَّتِي

بِالأبَوَينِ يَا أُخَيَّ أدلَتِ

Likewise, the sister alongside the sister who

is connected through both parents, my little brother.

وَالسُّدسُ فَرضُ جَدَّةٍ في النَّسَبِ

وَاحِدَةٍ كَانَت لأُمٍّ وَأبِ

One-sixth is the fixed share of a grandmother by lineage,

a single one, on the maternal or paternal side.

وَوَلَدُ الأمِّ يَنَالُ السُّدسَا

وَالشَّرطُ في إفرَادِهِ لا يُنسى

A mother's child receives one-sixth;

the condition that this heir be alone must not be forgotten.

وَإن تَسَاوَى نَسَبُ الجَدَّاتِ

وَكُنَّ كُلُّهُنُّ وَارِثَاتِ

If the grandmothers' degrees of kinship are equal

and all of them are entitled to inherit,

فَالسُّدسُ بَينَهُنَّ بِالسَّوِيَّه

في القِسمَةِ العَادِلَةِ الشَّرعِيَّه

one-sixth is divided equally among them

in the just division prescribed by sacred law.

وَإن تَكُن قُربى لأُمٍّ حَجَبَت

أُمَّ أَبٍ بُعدَى وَسُدساً سَلَبَت

If a nearer maternal grandmother is present, she excludes

a more distant paternal grandmother and takes away her sixth.

وَإن تَكُن بِالعَكسِ فالقَولانِ

في كُتبِ أهلِ العِلمِ مَنصُوصَانِ

If the situation is reversed, there are two opinions

expressly stated in the books of the learned.

لا تَسقُطُ البُعدَى عَلَى الصَّحِيحِ

وَاتَّفَقَ الجُلُّ عَلَى التَّصحِيحِ

The more distant one is not excluded, according to the sound view;

the majority agree that this view is correct.

وَكُلُّ مَن أدلَت بِغَيرِ وَارِثِ

فَمَا لَهَا حَظٌّ مِنَ المَوَارِثِ

Every grandmother whose connection passes through a non-heir

has no portion of the inheritance.

وَتَسقُطُ البُعدَى بِذاتِ القُربِ

في المَذهَبِ الأَولَى فَقُل لِي حَسبِي

The more distant one is excluded by the nearer

according to the preferable view; so tell me, 'Enough.'

وَقَد تَنَاهَت قِسمَةُ الفُرُوضِ

مِن غَيرِ إشكالٍ وَلا غُمُوضِ

The division of fixed shares has now ended,

without difficulty or obscurity.

وَحُقَّ أَن نَشرَعَ في التَّعصِيبِ

بِكُلِّ قَولٍ مُوجَزٍ مُصِيبِ

It is now fitting to begin residuary inheritance

with concise and accurate statements.

فَكُلُّ مَن أحرزَ كُلَّ المَالِ

مِنَ القَرَابَاتِ أوِ الموَالِي

Everyone who receives the whole estate,

among relatives or those bound by manumission,

أو كانَ مَا يَفضُلُ بَعد الفَرض لَه

فَهوَ أخُو العُصُوبَةِ المُفضَّلَه

or to whom belongs what remains after the fixed shares,

is a holder of the favored residuary entitlement:

كَالأَبِ وَالجَدِّ وَجدِّ الجَدِّ

والإبنِ عِندَ قُربِهِ وَالبُعدِ

such as the father, grandfather, and grandfather's grandfather;

the son, whether his degree is near or remote;

وَالأَخِ وَابنِ الأَخِ وَالأَعمَامِ

وَالسَّيِّدِ المُعتِقِ ذِي الإِنعامِ

the brother, brother's son, and paternal uncles;

and the beneficent master who granted manumission.

وَهكَذَا بَنُوهُمُ جَمِيعاً

فَكًُن لِمَا أَذكُرُهُ سَمِيعاً

Likewise all their sons;

be attentive to what I mention.

وَمَا لِذِي البُعدَى مَعَ القَرِيب

في الإِرثِ مِن حَظٍّ وَلا نَصِيبِ

The remoter relative, when a nearer one is present,

has neither share nor portion in inheritance.

وَالأَخُ وَالعَمُّ لأُمٍّ وَأبِ

أولَى مِنَ المُدلِي بِشَطرِ النَّسَبِ

A brother or paternal uncle through both mother and father

has priority over one connected through half that lineage.

وَالإبنُ وَالأَخُ مَعَ الإِنَاثِ

يُعَصِّبَانِهِنَّ في المِيراثِ

The son and brother, alongside the females,

make them residuaries in inheritance.

وَالأخَوَاتُ إِن تَكُن بَنَاتُ

فَهُنَّ مَعهُنَّ مُعصَّبَاتُ

Sisters, when there are daughters,

become residuaries alongside them.

وَلَيسَ في النِّسَاءِ طُرّاً عَصَبَه

إلا الَّتِي مَنَّت بِعِتقِ الرَّقَبَه

Among all women, none is a residuary in her own right

except she who graciously set a neck free.

وَالجَدُ مَحجُوبٌ عَنِ المِيرَاثِ

بِالأَبِ في أحوَالِهِ الثَّلاثِ

The grandfather is barred from inheritance

by the father in all three of his circumstances.

وَتَسقُطُ الجَدَّاتُ مِن كُلِّ جِهَه

بِالأُمِّ فَافهَمهُ وَقِس مَا أَشبَهَه

Grandmothers from every side are excluded

by the mother; understand this and apply it to similar cases.

وَهكَذَا ابنُ الابنِ بِالإِبنِ فَلا

تَبغِ عَنِ الحُكمِ الصَّحِيحِ مَعدِلا

Likewise, the son's son is excluded by the son; so do not

seek a departure from the correct ruling.

وَتَسقُطُ الإخوَةُ بِالبَنِينَا

وَبِالأَبِ الأَدنَى كَمَا رَوَينَا

Siblings are excluded by sons

and by the immediate father, as we have related,

أو بِبَنِي البَنِينَ كَيفَ كَانُوا

سِيَّانِ فِيهِ الجَمعُ وَالوِحدَانُ

or by sons of sons, whatever their degree;

several and one are alike in this.

وَيَفضُلُ ابنُ الأُمِّ بِالإِسقَاطِ

بِالجَدِّ فَافهَمهُ عَلَى احتِيَاطِ

The maternal brother is additionally subject to exclusion

by the grandfather; understand this carefully;

وَبِالبَنَات وَبَنَاتِ الابنِ

جَمعاً وَوِحدَاناً فَقُل لِي زِدنِي

and by daughters and sons' daughters,

whether several or one; then say to me, 'Tell me more.'

ثُمَّ بَنَاتُ الابنِ يَسقُطنَ مَتَى

حَازَ البَنَاتُ الثُّلُثَينِ يَا فَتَى

Then sons' daughters are excluded whenever

the daughters receive two-thirds, young man,

إلاَّ إذَا عَصَّبَهُنَّ الذَّكَرُ

مِن وَلَدِ الإِبنِ عَلَى مَا ذَكَرُوا

unless a male makes them residuaries,

from the descendants of a son, as they have stated.

وَمِثلُهُنَّ الأخَوَاتُ اللَّلاتِي

يُدلِينَ بِالقُربِ مِنَ الجِهَاتِ

Similarly, those sisters who

are connected through the nearer lines of kinship,

إذا أخَذنَ فَرضَهُنَّ وَافِِيَا

أسقَطنَ أولاَدَ لا أبِ البَوَاكِيَا

when they receive their full fixed share,

exclude the weeping children—'not a father' [wording unclear].

وَإن يَكُن أخٌ لَهُنَّ حاضِرَا

عَصَّبَهُن بَاطِناً وَظَاهِرَا

If a brother of theirs is present,

he makes them residuaries, inwardly and outwardly.

وَلَيسَ إبنُ الأخِ بِالمُعصِّبِ

مَن مِثلَهُ أَو فَوقَهُ في النَّسَبِ

A brother's son does not make a residuary

of anyone equal to him or above him in lineage.

وَإن تَجِد زَوجاً وَأُمّاً وَرِثَا

وَإخوَةً لِلامِّ حَازُوا الثُّلُثَا

If you find a husband and mother who inherit,

and maternal siblings who receive one-third,

وَإخوَةً أَيضاً لأُمٍّ وَأَبِ

وَاستَغرَقُوا المَالَ بِفَرضِ النُّصُبِ

and also siblings through both mother and father,

while the prescribed shares have exhausted the estate,

فَاجعَلهُمُ كُلَّهُمُ لأُمِّ

وَاجعَل أبَاهُم حَجَراً في اليَمَِّ

treat them all as children of the mother,

and make their father a stone in the sea.

واقسِم عَلَى الإِخوَة ثُلثَ التَّرِكَه

فَهذِهِ المَسألَةُ المُشتَرَكَه

Divide one-third of the estate among the siblings;

this is the shared-inheritance case.

وَنَبتَدِي الآنَ بِمَا أَردنَا

في الجَدِّ وَالإِخوَةِ إِذ وَعَدنَا

We now begin what we intended

concerning the grandfather and siblings, as we promised.

فألقِ نَحوَ مَا أَقُولُ السَّمعَا

وَاجمَع حَوَاشِي الكَلِمَاتِ جَمعَا

So lend your ear to what I say,

and gather up every detail of the words.

وَاعلَم بِأنَّ الجَدَّ ذُو أحوَالِ

أُنبِيكَ عَنهُنَّ عَلَى التَّوَالِي

Know that the grandfather has several circumstances;

I will tell you of them in succession.

يُقَاسِمُ الإِخوَةَ فِيهِنَّ إذَا

لَم يَعُدِ القَسمُ عَلَيهِ بِالأَذَى

He shares with the siblings in these cases when

the division does not work to his disadvantage.

فَتَارَةً يَأخُذُ ثُلثاً كَامِلاً

إِن كَانَ بِالقِسمَةِ عَنهُ نَازِلا

Sometimes he takes a full third

if sharing would bring him below it,

إن لَم يَكُن هُنَاكَ ذُو سِهَامِ

فَاقنَع بِإِيضَاحِي عَنِ استِفهَامِ

when there is no holder of a fixed share.

Be satisfied with my explanation, without further questioning.

وَتَارَةً يَأخُذُ ثُلثَ البَاقِي

بَعدَ ذَوِي الفُرُوضِ وَالأرزَاقِ

Sometimes he takes one-third of the remainder

after the holders of fixed shares and allotted portions.

هذَا إِذَا مَا كَانَتِ المُقَاسَمَه

تَنقُصُهُ عَن ذَاكَ بِالمُزَاحَمَه

This is when sharing

would reduce him below that through competing claims.

وَتَارَةً يَأخُذُ سُدسَ المَالِ

وَلَيسَ عَنهُ نَازِلاً بَحَالِ

Sometimes he takes one-sixth of the estate,

and he never falls below it.

وهوَ مَعَ الإنَاثِ عِندَ القَسمِ

مِثلُ أخٍ في سَهمِهِ وَالحُكمِ

Alongside females, when sharing, he is

like a brother in his portion and the ruling,

إِلا مَعَ الأُمِّ فَلا يَحجُبُهَا

بَل ثُلُثُ المَالِ لَهَا يَصحَبُهَا

except with the mother: he does not reduce her share;

rather, one-third of the estate remains with her.

وَاحسُب بَنِي الأَبِ لَدَى الأَعدَادِ

وَارفُض بَنِي الأُمِّ مَعَ الأَجدَادِ

Count the father's children when tallying,

and exclude the mother's children when grandfathers are present.

وَاحكُم عَلَى الإِخوَةِ بَعدَ العَدِّ

حُكمَكَ فِيهِم عِندَ فَقدِ الجَدِّ

After counting, apply to the siblings

the ruling you would apply in the grandfather's absence.

وَاسقِط بَنِي الإِخوَةِ بِالأَجدَادِ

حُكماً بَعدلٍ ظَاهِرِ الإِرشَادِ

Exclude the sons of siblings through grandfathers:

a just ruling with clear guidance.

وَالأختُ لا فَرضَ مَعَ الجَدِّ لَها

فِيما عَدَا مَسأَلَةً كَمَّلَهَا

The sister has no fixed share alongside the grandfather

except in a case completed by

زوجٌ وَأُمٌّ وَهُمَا تَمَامُهَا

فَاعلَم فَخَيرُ أُمَّةٍ عَلاَّمُهَا

a husband and mother, who complete its participants.

Know this, for a community's best member is its most learned.

تُعرَفُ يَا صاحِ بِالأكدَرِيَّه

وَهيَ بِأَن تَعرِفَهَا حَرِيَّه

It is known, my friend, as al-Akdariyya,

and it deserves to be known by you.

فَيُفرَضُ النِّصفُ لَهَا وَالسُّدسُ لَه

حَتَّى تَعُولَ بِالفُرُوضِ المُجمَلَه

One-half is assigned to her and one-sixth to him,

until the combined fixed shares require an increased denominator, or ‘awl.

ثُمَّ يَعُودَانِ إِلَى المُقَاسَمَه

كَمَا مَضى فَاحفَظه وَاشكُر نَاظِمه

Then the two return to sharing,

as explained before; remember it and thank its versifier.

وَإن تُرِد مَعرفَةَ الحِسَابِ

لِتَهتَدِي بِهِ إِلَى الصَّوَابِ

If you desire knowledge of arithmetic

to be guided through it to the correct result,

وَتَعرِفَ القسِمَةَ وَالتَّفضِيلا

وَتَعلَمَ التَّ التَّصحِيحَ وَالتَّأصِيلا

and to understand division and distinctions in allotment,

and learn the—[unfinished word]—whole-share adjustment and base-setting,

فاستَخرِجِ الأُصُولَ في المَسَائِلِ

وَلا تَكُن عَن حِفظِهَا بِذَاهِلِ

derive the calculation bases in the cases,

and do not neglect to memorize them.

فَإِنَّهُنَّ سَبعَةٌ أُصُولُ

ثَلاثَةٌ مِنهُنَّ قَد تَعُولُ

There are seven calculation bases;

three of them can undergo ‘awl,

وَبَعدَهَا أَربَعًَةٌ تَمَامُ

لا عَولَ يَعرُوهَا وَلا انثِلامُ

followed by four that complete the list,

which undergo neither ‘awl nor impairment.

فَالسُّدسُ مِن سِتَّةِ أسهُمٍ يُرَى

وَالثُّلثُ وَالرُّبعُ مِنِ اثنَي عَشَرَا

One-sixth is expressed out of six shares;

one-third and one-quarter out of twelve.

وَالثُّمنُ إِن ضُمَّ إِلَيهِ السُّدسُ

فَأصلُهُ الصَّادِقُ فِيهِ الحَدسُ

If one-sixth is added to one-eighth,

its base, correctly determined, is

أربَعَةٌ يَتبَعُهَا عِشرُونَا

يَعرِفُهَا الحُسَّابُ أجمَعُونَا

four with twenty following it;

all calculators know it.

فهذِهِ الثَّلاثَةُ الأُصُولُ

إن كَثُرَت فُرُوضُهَأ تَعُولُ

These are the three calculation bases

that undergo ‘awl when their prescribed shares increase.

فَتَبلُغُ السِّتَّةُ عِقدَ العَشَرَه

في صُورَةٍ مَعرُوفَةٍ مُشتَهِرَه

Six can reach the total of ten

in a well-known and established case.

وَتَلحَقُ الَّتِي تَلِيهَا في الأَثَر

بالعَولِ إفرَاداً إلَى سَبعَ عَشَر

The next base in sequence reaches,

through ‘awl in odd increments, seventeen.

وَالعَدَدُ الثَّالِثُ قَد يَعُولُ

بِثُمنِه فَاعمَل بِمَا أقُولُ

The third number may undergo ‘awl

by one-eighth of itself; act on what I say.

وَالنِّصفُ وَالبَاقِي أوِ النِّصفَانِ

أصلُهُمَا في حُكمِهِم إِثنَانِ

One-half and the remainder, or two halves:

their base, according to the rules, is two.

وَالثُّلثُ مِن ثَلاثَةٍ يَكُونُ

وَالرُّبعُ مِن أربَعَةٍ مَسنُونُ

One-third is calculated out of three;

one-quarter is prescribed out of four.

وَالثُّمنُ إن كَانَ فَمِن ثَمَانِيَه

فَهذِهِ هِيَ الأُصُولُ الثَّانِيَه

If there is one-eighth, its base is eight.

These are the second group of bases.

لا يَدخُلُ العَولُ عَلَيهَا فَاعلَمِ

ثُمَّ اسلُكِ التَّصحِيحَ فِيهَا وَاقسِمِ

‘Awl does not affect them; know this.

Then adjust them to whole shares and divide.

وَإن تَكُن مِن أصلِهَا تَصِحُّ

فَتَركُ تَطوِيلِ الحِسَابِ رِبحُ

If the shares divide correctly from the original base,

avoiding lengthy calculation is a gain.

فَأَعطِ كُلا سَهمَهُ مِن أصلِهَا

مُكَمَّلاَ أَو عَائِلاً مِن عَولِهَا

Give everyone their share from its base,

in full, or proportionately reduced through its ‘awl.

وَإِن تَرَ السِّهَامَ لَيسَت تَنقَسِم

عَلَى ذَوِي المِيرَاثِ فَاتبَع مَا رُسِم

If you see that the shares do not divide evenly

among the heirs, follow what has been set out.

وَاطلُب طَرِيقَ الاختِصَارِ في العَمَل

بالوَفق والضَّربِ يَجَانِبكَ الزَّلَل

Seek the abbreviated method of calculation;

using reduced factors and multiplication will keep you from error.

وَاردُد إِلَى الوَفقِ الَّذِي يُوَافِقُ

وَأضربهُ في الأَصلِ فَأَنتَ الحَأذِقُ

Reduce to the corresponding factor

and multiply it by the base; then you are skillful.

إن كَانَ جِنساً وَاحِداً أَو أكثَرَا

فَاتبَع سَبِيلَ الحَقِّ وَاطرَحِ المِرَا

Whether there is one class or more,

follow the path of truth and abandon contention.

وَإن تَرَ الكَسرَ عَلَى أجنَاسِ

فَإِنَّهَا في الحُكمِ عِندَ النَّاسِ

If you find nonintegral shares among several classes,

then, under the rules recognized by people,

تُحصَرُ في أربَعَةٍ أقسَامٍ

يَعرِفُها المَاهِرُ في الأحكامِ

they fall into four categories,

known to one skilled in the rulings:

مُمَاثِلٌ مِن بَعدِهِ مُنَاسِبُ

وَبَعدَهُ مُوَافِقٌ مُصَاحِبُ

equal numbers, followed by numbers where one divides the other;

then paired numbers sharing a common divisor;

وَالرَّابِعُ المُبَايِنُ المُخَالِفُ

يُنبِيكَ عَن تَفصِيلِهنَّ العَارِفُ

and fourth, coprime numbers, which differ.

The knowledgeable person tells you their details.

فَخُذ مِنَ المُمَاثِلَينِ وَاحِدَا

وخُذ مِنَ المُناسِبَينِ الزَّائِدَا

Take one of two equal numbers;

of two numbers where one divides the other, take the larger.

وَاضرِب جَمِيعَ الوَفقِ في المُوافِقِ

وَاسلُك بِذَاكَ أنهَج الطَّرَائِقِ

Multiply the reduced factor in full by the number sharing its divisor,

and thereby follow the clearest method.

وَخُذ جَمِيعَ العَدَدِ المُبَايِنِ

وَأضرِبهُ في الثَّانِي وَلا تُداهِنِ

Take the whole coprime number

and multiply it by the second; do not be lax.

فَذَاكَ جُزءُ السَّهمِ فَاحفَظَنهُ

وَاحذَر هُدِيتَ أَن تَزِيغَ عَنهُ

That is the share multiplier; remember it.

Beware—may you be guided—of departing from it.

واضرِبهُ في الأَصلِ الَّذِي تَأَصَّلا

وَأحصِ مَا انضَمَّ وَمَا تَحَصَّلا

Multiply it by the established base,

and tally what was combined and what resulted.

وَاقسِمهُ فَالقَسمُ إِذَاً صَحِيحُ

يَعرِفُهُ الأعجَمُ وَالفصِيحيحُ

Divide it, and the division will then be correct,

understood by the non-Arabic speaker and the eloquent alike.

فَهذِهِ مِنَ الحِسَابِ جُمَلُ

يَأتِي عَلَى مِثَالِهِنَّ العَمَلُ

These are summaries of arithmetic;

the calculation follows their examples,

مِن غَيرِ تَطوِيلٍ وَلا اعتِسَافِ

فَاقنَع بِمَا بُيِّنَ فَهوَ كافِ

without prolixity or arbitrary procedure.

Be satisfied with what has been explained; it suffices.

وإن يَمُت آخَرُ قَبلَ القِسمَه

فصَحِّحِ الحِسَابَ وَاعرِف سَهمَه

If another heir dies before the division,

adjust the calculation and identify that heir's share.

وَاجعَل لَهُ مَسألَةً أخرَى كَمَا

قَد بُيِّنَ التَّفصِيلُ فِيما قُدِّمَا

Set up another inheritance case for that heir, as

the details have been explained in what preceded.

وإن تَكُن لَيسَت عَلَيهَا تَنقَسِم

فَارجِع إِلَى الوَفقِ بِهَذا قَد حُكِم

If the shares do not divide evenly in that calculation,

return to the reduced factor; this is the prescribed rule.

وَانظُر فَإن وَافَقَتِ السِّهامَا

فَخُذ هُدِيتَ وَفقَهَا تَمَامَا

Consider whether its base shares a common divisor with the shares;

then take its full reduced factor—may you be guided.

واضرِبهُ أو جَمِيعَهَأ في السَّابِقَه

إِن لَم تَكُن بينهُما مُوَافَقَه

Multiply that, or its whole base, by the earlier base

if the two have no common divisor.

وَكُلُّ سهمٍ في جَمِيعِ الثَّانِيَه

يُضرَبُ أَو في وَفقِهَا عَلانِيَه

Every share is multiplied by the whole second base

or by its reduced factor, plainly.

وَأسهُمُ الأُخرَى فَفِي السِّهامِ

تُضرَبُ أو في وَفقِهَا تَمَامِ

The shares of the other case are, by the shares,

multiplied, or by their reduced factor in full.

فَهذِهِ طَرِيقَةُ المُنَاسَخه

فارقَ بِهَا رُتبَة فَضلٍ شاِمخَه

This is the method of successive inheritances;

through it, ascend to a lofty rank of excellence.

وَإن يَكُن في مُستَحِقِّ المَالِ

خُنثَى صَحِيحٌ بَيِّنُ الإشكالِ

If among those entitled to the estate there is

an intersex person whose sex is genuinely unclear,

فَاقسِم عَلَى الأَقَلِّ وَاليَقِينِ

تَحظَ بالقِسمَةِ وَالتَّبيِينِ

divide according to the lesser, certain entitlement;

you will attain proper division and clarity.

وَاحكُم عَلَى المَفقُودِ حُكمَ الخُنثى

إِن ذَكَراً يَكُونُ أَو هُو أُنثى

Apply to the missing person the ruling for an intersex person,

whether that person is male or female.

وَهكَذَا حُكمُ ذَوَاتِ الحَملِ

فَابنِ عَلَى اليَقِينِ وَالأقَلِّ

The same ruling applies to pregnant women;

base the calculation on certainty and the lesser amount.

وَإن يَمُت قَومٌ بِهَدمٍ أو غَرَق

أو حادِثٍ عَمَّ الجَميعَ كَالحَرَق

If people die through a collapse or drowning,

or an incident affecting everyone, such as fire,

ولَم يَكُن يُعلَمُ حَالُ السَّابِقِ

فَلا تُوَرِّث زَاهِقاَ مِن زَاهِقِ

and it is not known who died first,

do not let one deceased person inherit from another.

وَعُدَّهُم كَأَنَّهُم أجَانِبُ

فَهكَذَا القُولُ السَّدِيدُ الصَّائبُ

Treat them as though they were unrelated;

this is the sound and correct ruling.

وقَد أتَى القَولُ عَلَى مَا شِئنَا

مِن قِسمَةِ المِيرَاثِ إِذ بَيَّنَا

Our account has covered what we wished

of the division of inheritance, as we explained,

عَلَى طَرِيقِ الرَّمزِ وَالإشَارَه

مُلَخَّصاً بِأَوجَزِ العِبَارَه

by way of brief indications and allusions,

summarized in the most concise expression.

فَالحَمدُ للهِ عَلَى التَّمامِ

حَمداً كَثِيراً تَم في الدَّوَامِ

Praise belongs to God for its completion:

abundant praise, complete and everlasting.

نَسألُهُ العَفوَ عَنِ التَّقصِيرِ

وَخيرَ مَا نَأمُلُ في المَصِيرِ

We ask Him to pardon our shortcomings

and grant the best we hope for at our final destination;

وغفرَ ما كَأن مِنَ الذُّنُوبِ

وَسَترَ مَا شَانَ مِنَ العُيُوبِ

to forgive whatever sins there were

and conceal the faults that brought disgrace.

وَأَفضَلُ الصَّلاَةِ وَالتَّسلِيمِ

عَلَى النَّبِيِّ المُصطَفَى الكَرِيمِ

And the finest blessings and salutations

upon the chosen, noble Prophet:

مُحَمَّدٍ خَيرِ الأنَامِ العَاقِب

وَآلِهِ الغُرِّ ذَوِي المَنَاقِبِ

Muhammad, best of creation, al-‘Aqib;

and his radiant family, possessors of virtues;

وَصَحبِهِ الأمَاجِدِ الأبرَارِ

الصَّفوَةِ الأكَابِرِ الأخيَارِ

and his illustrious, righteous companions,

the chosen, the great, the excellent.