Chapter on the Inheritance of the Hermaphrodite

Hadith.5702 - Al-Sakuni narrated from Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) from his father, Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as) that Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) used to determine the inheritance of a hermaphrodite by counting their ribs. If their ribs were fewer than the ribs of women by one rib, he would allocate to them the inheritance of a man, because a man has one rib less than a woman. This is because Hawwa (Eve) was created from the leftmost rib of Adam (as), and thus one rib was missing from his ribs.

Translation: Bab Ul Qaim Publications — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

Hadith.5703 - For this reason (Hadith.5702), the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) said regarding the date palms: "Treat your paternal aunt (metaphorical) well."

Translation: Bab Ul Qaim Publications — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

Hadith.5704 - Asim ibn Humaid narrated from Muhammad ibn Qays from Abu Jafar Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as) who said: "Shurayh the judge was once sitting in his court when a woman approached him and said: 'O' judge, rule between me and my opponent.' He (Shurayh) asked her: 'And who is your opponent?' She replied: 'You.' Shurayh said: 'Make way for her,' so they made space, and she entered. He (Shurayh) asked her: 'What is your grievance?' She said: 'I possess what belongs to men and what belongs to women.' Shurayh said: 'The Commander of the Faithful (as) rules according to how one urinates.' She replied: 'I urinate from both, and both function together.' Shurayh said: 'By Allah (swt), I have never heard anything more astonishing than this.' She said: 'And there is something even more astonishing.' He asked: 'And what is that?' She said: 'My husband had intercourse with me, and I bore him a child, and I had intercourse with my female servant, and she bore me a child.' Shurayh struck one of his hands against the other in amazement and then went to the Commander of the Faithful (as) and said: 'O' Commander of the Faithful, something has come before me that I have never heard of anything more astonishing.' He (Shurayh) then narrated the woman's story to Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as). The Commander of the Faithful (as) asked the woman about it, and she confirmed it. Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) asked her: 'And who is your husband?' She replied: 'So-and-so.' Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) sent for the man and asked him: 'Do you know this woman?' He replied: 'Yes, she is my wife.' Imam Ali (as) then questioned him about what she had said, and the man confirmed it. Imam Ali (as) said to him: 'You are bolder than a lion rider for approaching her in this condition.'" Then Imam Ali (as) said: "O' Qanbar, take her into a room with a woman and count her ribs." Her husband said: "O' Commander of the Faithful (as), I do not feel secure leaving her with a man, nor do I trust leaving her with a woman." Imam Ali (as) said: "Bring me Dinar, the eunuch," who was among the righteous people of Kufa and whom Imam Ali (as) trusted. Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) said to him: "O' Dinar, take her into a room, have her remove her clothing, instruct her to wrap herself with a waistcloth, and count her ribs." Dinar did so and found that she had seventeen ribs - nine on the right side and eight on the left. Then Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) dressed her in men's clothing, placed a cap on her head, gave her sandals, draped a cloak over her, and asigned her among the men. Her husband said: "O' Commander of the Faithful (as), she is my cousin, and she has borne me a child, and now you are assigning her among the men?" Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) replied: "I have ruled over her with the judgment of Allah (swt), the Mighty and Majestic. Indeed, Allah (swt), Blessed and Exalted, created Hawwa (Eve) from the farthest left rib of Adam, and the ribs of men are fewer, whereas the ribs of women are complete."

Translation: Bab Ul Qaim Publications — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

Hadith.5705 - Al-Hasan ibn Mahbub narrated from Jameel ibn Darraj or Jameel ibn Salih from Al-Fudayl ibn Yasar who said: I asked Abu Abdullah (as) about a newborn who has neither the characteristics of males nor females. Imam (as) said: "In this case, the Imam will cast lots. He will write on one lot 'Servant of Allah (swt)' (Abdullah) and on another lot 'Maidservant of Allah (swt)' (Amatullah). Then the Imam or the one drawing the lots will say: 'O' Allah (swt), You are Allah (swt), there is no God but You (swt). Knower of the unseen and the seen, You (swt) judge between Your (swt) servants in what they differ. Clarify for us the matter of this newborn so that we may allot the inheritance You (swt) have prescribed for them in Your (swt) Book'. Then the two lots will be placed among other unidentified lots, and whichever one is drawn will determine how the child inherits."

Translation: Bab Ul Qaim Publications — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.