Marriage

ثَلَاثَةٌ لِلْمُؤْمِنِ فِيهَا رَاحَةٌ دَارٌ وَاسِعَةٌ تُوَارِي عَوْرَتَهُ وَ سُوءَ حَالِهِ مِنَ النَّاسِ وَ امْرَأَةٌ صَالِحَةٌ تُعِينُهُ عَلَى أَمْرِ الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ وَ ابْنَةٌ أَوْ أُخْتٌ يُخْرِجُهَا مِنْ مَنْزِلِهِ إِمَّا بِمَوْتٍ أَوْ بِتَزَوُّجٍ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Three things provide comfort for a believing person. Of such matters one is a spacious house which provides him privacy for his bad conditions among people, a virtuous wife who helps him in the matters of this and the next life and a daughter or sister whom he sends out of his house i

شَكَا رَجُلٌ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص الْوَحْشَةَ فَأَمَرَهُ أَنْ يَتَّخِذَ فِي بَيْتِهِ زَوْجَ حَمَامٍ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that once a man complained before the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, about loneliness and fear. He (the Messenger of Allah) commanded him to keep a pair of pigeons in his house.’”

كَانَ فِي مَنْزِلِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص زَوْجُ حَمَامٍ أَحْمَرُ.

there was a pair of red pigeons.’”

سَأَلَ رَجُلٌ الرِّضَا ع عَنِ الزَّوْجِ مِنَ الْحَمَامِ يُفْرِخُ عِنْدَهُ يَتَزَوَّجُ الطَّيْرُ أُمَّهُ وَ ابْنَتَهُ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِمَا كَانَ بَيْنَ الْبَهَائِمِ.

“Once a man asked al-Rida’ (a.s.), about a pair of pigeons which hatched chicks with him; if a bird can mate a mother bird or daughter bird. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful with what is in animals.’”

فِي رَجُلٍ تُوُفِّيَ وَ تَرَكَ جَارِيَةً أَعْتَقَ ثُلُثَهَا فَتَزَوَّجَهَا الْوَصِيُّ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُقْسَمَ شَيْ‌ءٌ مِنَ الْمِيرَاثِ أَنَّهَا تُقَوَّمُ وَ تُسْتَسْعَى هِيَ وَ زَوْجُهَا فِي بَقِيَّةِ ثَمَنِهَا بَعْدَ مَا يُقَوَّمُ فَمَا أَصَابَ الْمَرْأَةَ مِنْ عِتْقٍ أَوْ رِقٍّ فَهُوَ يَجْرِي عَلَى وَلَدِهَا[2].

“This is about the case of a man who dies and leaves as his legacy a slave-girl whose one-third he sets free and the executor of the will marries her before the distribution of the legacy. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘She is appraised, then with her husband both are made to work to pay for the remaining of her cos

كُنَّا عَلَى بَابِ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع وَ نَحْنُ جَمَاعَةٌ نَنْتَظِرُ أَنْ يَخْرُجَ إِذْ جَاءَتِ امْرَأَةٌ فَقَالَتْ أَيُّكُمْ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ فَقَالَ لَهَا الْقَوْمُ مَا تُرِيدِينَ مِنْهُ قَالَتْ أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَسْأَلَهُ عَنْ مَسْأَلَةٍ فَقَالُوا لَهَا هَذَا فَقِيهُ أَهْلِ الْعِرَاقِ فَسَلِيهِ فَقَالَتْ إِنَّ زَوْجِي مَاتَ وَ تَرَكَ أَلْفَ دِرْهَمٍ وَ كَانَ لِي عَلَيْهِ مِنْ صَدَاقِي خَمْسُمِائَةِ دِرْهَمٍ فَأَخَذْتُ صَد

“Once we were with abu Ja‘far (a.s.). We were in a group waiting for him (the Imam) to come out. A woman came and asked, ‘Which one of you is abu Ja‘far?’ The people asked, ‘What for are you asking for him?’ She replied, ‘I want to ask him about an issue.’ They said, ‘This is the jurist of the people of Iraq. You can a

أَهْلُ الْمِيرَاثِ لَا نُجِيزُ وَصِيَّتَهَا لَهُ إِنَّهُ مُكَاتَبٌ لَمْ يُعْتَقْ وَ لَا يَرِثُ فَقَضَى بِأَنَّهُ يَرِثُ بِحِسَابِ مَا أُعْتِقَ مِنْهُ وَ يَجُوزُ لَهُ مِنَ الْوَصِيَّةِ بِحِسَابِ مَا أُعْتِقَ مِنْهُ وَ قَضَى ع فِي مُكَاتَبٍ أُوصِيَ لَهُ بِوَصِيَّةٍ وَ قَدْ قَضَى نِصْفَ مَا عَلَيْهِ فَأَجَازَ نِصْفَ الْوَصِيَّةِ وَ قَضَى ع فِي مُكَاتَبٍ قَضَى رُبُعَ مَا عَلَيْهِ فَأُوصِيَ لَهُ بِوَصِيَّةٍ فَأَجَازَ رُبُ

“This is about the case of a contracted slave who is married to a free woman who in her will assigns something for him and the heirs disagree with her will, saying that he is not free but is only contracted and he cannot inherit. Abu Ja’far (a.s.), issued a judgment that he inherits proportionate to the degree of his f

إِنَّمَا الصَّدَقَةُ مُحْدَثَةٌ إِنَّمَا كَانَ النَّاسُ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص يَنْحَلُونَ وَ يَهَبُونَ وَ لَا يَنْبَغِي لِمَنْ أَعْطَى لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ شَيْئاً أَنْ يَرْجِعَ فِيهِ قَالَ وَ مَا لَمْ يُعْطِ لِلَّهِ وَ فِي اللَّهِ فَإِنَّهُ يَرْجِعُ فِيهِ نِحْلَةً كَانَتْ أَوْ هِبَةً حِيزَتْ أَوْ لَمْ تُحَزْ[2] وَ لَا يَرْجِعُ الرَّجُلُ فِيمَا يَهَبُ لِامْرَأَتِهِ وَ لَا الْمَرْأَةُ فِيمَا تَهَبُ لِزَوْجِ

“Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Charity has emerged newly. In the time of the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, people would give gifts and presents. It is not proper for one who has given something to Allah, most Majestic, most Gloriou

هِيَ عَلَيْكِ صَدَقَةٌ فَقَالَ إِنْ كَانَ قَالَ ذَلِكَ لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَلْيُمْضِهَا وَ إِنْ كَانَ لَمْ يَقُلْ فَلَهُ أَنْ يَرْجِعَ إِنْ شَاءَ فِيهَا[1].

“This is about the case of a man who has a slave-girl and his wife gives him trouble about her. Thus, he says, ‘She is charity for you.’ One of the two Imam, (abu Ja‘far or abu ‘Abd Allah), ‘Alayhim al- Salam, has said, ‘If he has done so for the sake of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, he must comply with what he

أَنَّ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى ع بَعَثَ إِلَيْهِ بِوَصِيَّةِ أَبِيهِ وَ بِصَدَقَتِهِ مَعَ أَبِي إِسْمَاعِيلَ مُصَادِفٍ‌ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ* هَذَا مَا عَهِدَ جَعْفَرُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ هُوَ يَشْهَدُ أَنْ‌ لا إِلهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ‌ وَحْدَهُ‌ لا شَرِيكَ لَهُ‌ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَ لَهُ الْحَمْدُ يُحْيِي وَ يُمِيتُ‌ بِيَدِهِ الْخَيْرُ وَ هُوَ عَلى‌ كُلِّ شَيْ‌ءٍ قَدِيرٌ وَ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً عَبْدُهُ وَ رَسُولُه

“Abu al-Hassan, Musa (a.s.), sent to him the will of his father with his charity through abu Tsma‘il Musadif. “In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful “This is the will of JaTar ibn Muhammad who testifies that no one deserves worship except Allah alone, who has no partners. To Him belongs the kingdom, to Him

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الْيَتِيمَةِ مَتَى يُدْفَعُ إِلَيْهَا مَالُهَا قَالَ إِذَا عَلِمْتَ أَنَّهَا لَا تُفْسِدُ وَ لَا تُضَيِّعُ فَسَأَلْتُهُ إِنْ كَانَتْ قَدْ تَزَوَّجَتْ فَقَالَ إِذَا تَزَوَّجَتْ فَقَدِ انْقَطَعَ مِلْكُ الْوَصِيِّ عَنْهَا.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a female orphan; when her assets must be given to her. He (the Imam) said, ‘When you learn that she does not destroy it or lose it, then you can give it to her.’ I then asked, ‘What happens if she has married?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘When she marries then possession

لَهُ رُدَّ عَلَيَّ مَالِي لِأَتَزَوَّجَ فَأَبَى عَلَيْهِ فَذَهَبَ حَتَّى زَنَى قَالَ يُلْزَمُ ثُلُثَيْ إِثْمِ زِنَى هَذَا الرَّجُلِ ذَلِكَ الْوَصِيُّ لِأَنَّهُ مَنَعَهُ الْمَالَ وَ لَمْ يُعْطِهِ فَكَانَ يَتَزَوَّجُ.

9. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from those who narrated to him who has narrated the following: “This is about the case of a man who dies, with a will to a man, leaving behind a small son who becomes mature. He goes to the executor of the will asking him to handover

جَالَسْتُ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ فَعَرَضَ ذِكْرُ الْفَرَائِضِ فِي الْمَوَارِيثِ فَقَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ الْعَظِيمِ أَ تَرَوْنَ أَنَّ الَّذِي أَحْصَى رَمْلَ عَالِجٍ عَدَداً جَعَلَ فِي مَالٍ‌ نِصْفاً وَ نِصْفاً وَ ثُلُثاً فَهَذَانِ النِّصْفَانِ قَدْ ذَهَبَا بِالْمَالِ فَأَيْنَ مَوْضِعُ الثُّلُثِ فَقَالَ لَهُ زُفَرُ بْنُ أَوْسٍ الْبَصْرِيُّ يَا أَبَا الْعَبَّاسِ فَمَنْ أَوَّلُ مَنْ أَعَالَ الْفَرَائِضَ فَقَالَ

“I sat with Ibn ‘Abbas that a mention of ordained shares of inheritance was made and Ibn ‘Abbas said, ‘Allah is free of all defects, the most great. Do you think that one who enumerates the number of the grains of sand in a sand valley has designated half and half and one-third? The two halves take away the legacy then

قَالَ زُرَارَةُ إِذَا أَرَدْتَ أَنْ تُلْقِيَ الْعَوْلَ فَإِنَّمَا يَدْخُلُ النُّقْصَانُ عَلَى الَّذِينَ لَهُمُ الزِّيَادَةُ مِنَ الْوُلْدِ وَ الْإِخْوَةِ مِنَ الْأَبِ وَ أَمَّا الزَّوْجُ وَ الْإِخْوَةُ مِنَ الْأُمِّ فَإِنَّهُمْ لَا يُنْقَصُونَ مِمَّا سَمَّى لَهُمُ [اللَّهُ‌] شَيْئاً.

“If you wish to deal with deficiency it is compensated from the share of those who have more, like children and brothers from the father. The husband and brothers from the mother do not compensate the deficiency from their ordained shares which Allah has mentioned.’”

أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَدْخَلَ الْوَالِدَيْنِ عَلَى جَمِيعِ أَهْلِ الْمَوَارِيثِ فَلَمْ يَنْقُصْهُمَا مِنَ السُّدُسِ [شَيْئاً] وَ أَدْخَلَ الزَّوْجَ وَ الْمَرْأَةَ فَلَمْ يَنْقُصْهُمَا مِنَ الرُّبُعِ وَ الثُّمُنِ [شَيْئاً].

“He had heard abu Ja‘far (a.s.), saying, ‘Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has placed the parents with all other heirs and [nothing] from their one-sixth is reduced. He has placed husband and wife with heirs and [nothing] is reduced from one-fourth and one-eighth.’”

أَرْبَعَةٌ لَا يَدْخُلُ عَلَيْهِمْ ضَرَرٌ فِي الْمِيرَاثِ الْوَالِدَانِ وَ الزَّوْجُ وَ الْمَرْأَةُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Nothing is reduced from the ordained shares of four people: the parents and the husband and the wife.’”

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَدْخَلَ الْأَبَوَيْنِ عَلَى جَمِيعِ أَهْلِ الْفَرَائِضِ فَلَمْ يَنْقُصْهُمَا مِنَ السُّدُسِ لِكُلِّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمَا وَ أَدْخَلَ الزَّوْجَ وَ الزَّوْجَةَ عَلَى جَمِيعِ أَهْلِ الْمَوَارِيثِ فَلَمْ يَنْقُصْهُمَا مِنَ الرُّبُعِ وَ الثُّمُنِ.

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has placed parents with all other heirs who have ordained shares and nothing is reduced from their one-sixth for each parent and He has placed a husband and wife with all other heirs but nothing is reduced from one-fourth and one-eighth.’”

لَا يَرِثُ مَعَ الْأُمِّ وَ لَا مَعَ الْأَبِ وَ لَا مَعَ الِابْنِ وَ لَا مَعَ الِابْنَةِ إِلَّا الزَّوْجُ وَ الزَّوْجَةُ وَ إِنَ‌ الزَّوْجَ لَا يُنْقَصُ مِنَ النِّصْفِ شَيْئاً إِذَا لَمْ يَكُنْ وَلَدٌ وَ لَا تُنْقَصُ الزَّوْجَةُ مِنَ الرُّبُعِ شَيْئاً إِذَا لَمْ يَكُنْ وَلَدٌ فَإِذَا كَانَ مَعَهُمَا وَلَدٌ فَلِلزَّوْجِ الرُّبُعُ وَ لِلْمَرْأَةِ الثُّمُنُ.

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘With the existence of a mother or father or son or daughter no one else inherits except the husband and wife. The one-half share of the husband is not reduced if there are no children; and from one-fourth of a wife nothing is reduced if there are no children; but if there is a child with

إِذَا تَرَكَ الرَّجُلُ أُمَّهُ أَوْ أَبَاهُ أَوِ ابْنَهُ أَوِ ابْنَتَهُ فَإِذَا تَرَكَ وَاحِداً مِنَ الْأَرْبَعَةِ فَلَيْسَ بِالَّذِي عَنَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِي كِتَابِهِ- قُلِ اللَّهُ يُفْتِيكُمْ فِي الْكَلالَةِ[1] وَ لَا يَرِثُ مَعَ الْأُمِّ وَ لَا مَعَ الْأَبِ وَ لَا مَعَ الِابْنِ وَ لَا مَعَ الِابْنَةِ أَحَدٌ خَلَقَهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ غَيْرَ زَوْجٍ أَوْ زَوْجَةٍ.

“If a deceased leaves behind his mother, or father, or his son or his daughter with one of these four then what Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has spoken about, ‘Allah gives you a fatwa about al -Kalalah’ (4:176) does not apply. With the existence of the mother, father, son or daughter no one of the creatures of

الْعِلَّةُ فِي وَضْعِ السِّهَامِ عَلَى سِتَّةٍ لَا أَقَلَّ وَ لَا أَكْثَرَ لِعِلَّةِ وُجُوهِ أَهْلِ الْمِيرَاثِ لِأَنَّ الْوُجُوهَ الَّتِي مِنْهَا سِهَامُ الْمَوَارِيثِ سِتَّةُ جِهَاتٍ لِكُلِّ جِهَةٍ سَهْمٌ فَأَوَّلُ جِهَاتِهَا سَهْمُ الْوَلَدِ وَ الثَّانِي سَهْمُ الْأَبِ وَ الثَّالِثُ سَهْمُ الْأُمِّ وَ الرَّابِعُ سَهْمُ الْكَلَالَةِ كَلَالَةِ الْأَبِ وَ الْخَامِسُ سَهْمُ كَلَالَةِ الْأُمِّ وَ السَّادِسُ سَهْمُ الزّ

بَنَاتُ الِابْنَةِ يَقُمْنَ مَقَامَ الِابْنَةِ إِذَا لَمْ تَكُنْ لِلْمَيِّتِ بَنَاتٌ وَ لَا وَارِثٌ غَيْرُهُنَّ وَ بَنَاتُ الِابْنِ يَقُمْنَ مَقَامَ الِابْنِ إِذَا لَمْ يَكُنْ لِلْمَيِّتِ وَلَدٌ وَ لَا وَارِثٌ غَيْرُهُنَّ. قَالَ الْفَضْلُ وَ وُلْدُ الْوَلَدِ أَبَداً يَقُومُونَ مَقَامَ الْوَلَدِ إِذَا لَمْ يَكُنْ وَلَدُ الصُّلْبِ [وَ] لَا يَرِثُ مَعَهُمْ إِلَّا الْوَالِدَانِ وَ الزَّوْجُ وَ الزَّوْجَةُ فَإِنْ تَرَكَ ا

Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Granddaughters from the daughter’s side keep the place of their mother if the deceased does not leave behind other daughters and there is no other heir besides them. Daughters of one’s son take the place of their father if the deceased does not leave behind a son and no one else inheri

قُلْتُ لِزُرَارَةَ إِنِّي سَمِعْتُ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ مُسْلِمٍ وَ بُكَيْراً يَرْوِيَانِ- عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع فِي زَوْجٍ وَ أَبَوَيْنِ وَ ابْنَةٍ فَلِلزَّوْجِ الرُّبُعُ ثَلَاثَةُ أَسْهُمٍ مِنِ اثْنَيْ عَشَرَ سَهْماً وَ لِلْأَبَوَيْنِ السُّدُسَانِ أَرْبَعَةُ أَسْهُمٍ مِنِ اثْنَيْ عَشَرَ سَهْماً وَ بَقِيَ خَمْسَةُ أَسْهُمٍ فَهُوَ لِلِابْنَةِ لِأَنَّهَا لَوْ كَانَتْ ذَكَراً لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهَا غَيْرُ خَمْسَةٍ مِنِ اثْنَيْ عَ

“I once said to Zurarah that I have heard Muhammad ibn Muslim and Bukayr narrating from abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about the husband, both parents and a daughter. The share of the husband is one-fourth, three shares out of twelve shares, the parents receive two-sixth, four shares out of twelve shares and the remaining five sha

لِلزَّوْجِ الرُّبُعُ ثَلَاثَةُ أَسْهُمٍ مِنِ اثْنَيْ عَشَرَ سَهْماً وَ لِلْأَبَوَيْنِ لِكُلِّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمَا السُّدُسُ سَهْمَانِ مِنِ اثْنَيْ عَشَرَ سَهْماً وَ بَقِيَ خَمْسَةُ أَسْهُمٍ فَهِيَ لِلِابْنَةِ لِأَنَّهُ لَوْ كَانَ ذَكَراً لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ أَكْثَرُ مِنْ خَمْسَةِ أَسْهُمٍ مِنِ اثْنَيْ عَشَرَ سَهْماً لِأَنَّ الْأَبَوَيْنِ لَا يُنْقَصَانِ لِكُلِّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمَا مِنَ السُّدُسِ شَيْئاً وَ أَنَ‌ الزَّوْجَ ل

“This is about the case of a woman who leaves behind her husband, both parents and a daughter. Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘The husband receives one-fourth. It is three shares out of twelve. The parents each receives one-sixth, two shares out of twelve. The remaining five shares belong to the daughter because if she w

دَفَعَ إِلَيَّ صَفْوَانُ كِتَاباً لِمُوسَى بْنِ بَكْرٍ فَقَالَ لِي هَذَا سَمَاعِي مِنْ مُوسَى بْنِ بَكْرٍ وَ قَرَأْتُهُ عَلَيْهِ فَإِذَا فِيهِ مُوسَى بْنُ بَكْرٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ قَالَ هَذَا مِمَّا لَيْسَ فِيهِ اخْتِلَافٌ عِنْدَ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ وَ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع‌ أَنَّهُمَا سُئِلَا عَنِ امْرَأَةٍ تَرَكَتْ زَوْجَهَا وَ أُمَّهَا وَ ابْنَتَيْهَا فَقَالَ لِلزَّوْجِ ال

3. Humayd ibn Ziyad has narrated from al-Hassan ibn Muhammad from Sama‘ah who has said that Safwan gave to him the book of Musa ibn Bakr which he read it before him and found Musa ibn Bakr narrating it from Sa’id from Zurarah who has said that: there are no differences among our people about the following case. Abu ‘Ab

لِلزَّوْجِ النِّصْفُ وَ لِلْأُمِّ الثُّلُثُ وَ لِلْأَبِ مَا بَقِيَ وَ قَالَ فِي امْرَأَةٍ مَعَ أَبَوَيْنِ قَالَ لِلْمَرْأَةِ الرُّبُعُ وَ لِلْأُمِّ الثُّلُثُ وَ مَا بَقِيَ فَلِلْأَبِ.

“About the case of a woman who leaves behind her husband and parents, abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘The share of the husband is one-half, the share of mother is one-third and the remaining belongs to the father.’ About the case of a man who leaves behind a wife and both parents, he (the Imam) said, ‘The share of the wi

لِلزَّوْجِ النِّصْفُ وَ لِلْأُمِّ الثُّلُثُ وَ مَا بَقِيَ فَلِلْأَبِ.

“About the case of a woman who leaves behind her husband and both parents, abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘The share of the husband is one-half, the share of mother is one-third and the remaining belongs to the father.’”

أَنَّ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع أَقْرَأَهُ صَحِيفَةَ الْفَرَائِضِ الَّتِي أَمْلَاهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص وَ خَطَّ عَلِيٌّ ع بِيَدِهِ فَقَرَأْتُ فِيهَا امْرَأَةٌ تَرَكَتْ زَوْجَهَا وَ أَبَوَيْهَا فَلِلزَّوْجِ النِّصْفُ ثَلَاثَةُ أَسْهُمٍ وَ لِلْأُمِّ سَهْمَانِ الثُّلُثُ تَامّاً وَ لِلْأَبِ السُّدُسُ سَهْمٌ.

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), once made me (Muhammad ibn Muslim) to read the book of ordained shares which was dictated by the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, to Ali (a.s.), who wrote it with his own hand. I read in it about the case of a woman wh

قُلْتُ لِزُرَارَةَ إِنَّ أُنَاساً قَدْ حَدَّثُونِي عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ وَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع بِأَشْيَاءَ فِي الْفَرَائِضِ فَأَعْرِضُهَا عَلَيْكَ فَمَا كَانَ مِنْهَا بَاطِلًا فَقُلْ هَذَا بَاطِلٌ وَ مَا كَانَ مِنْهَا حَقّاً فَقُلْ هَذَا حَقٌّ وَ لَا تَرْوِيهِ وَ اسْكُتْ فَحَدَّثْتُهُ بِمَا حَدَّثَنِي بِهِ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ فِي الزَّوْجِ وَ الْأَبَوَيْنِ قَالَ وَ اللَّهِ هُوَ الْحَقُّ.

“I once said to Zurarah that certain people narrated to me from abu Ja‘far and abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, about certain things of ordained shares. I like to show them to you so you can tell me what is right and what is false; and about what is right, say that it is right but do not narrate and remain quiet, and

هِيَ مِنْ سِتَّةِ أَسْهُمٍ لِلزَّوْجِ النِّصْفُ ثَلَاثَةُ أَسْهُمٍ وَ لِلْأُمِّ الثُّلُثُ سَهْمَانِ وَ لِلْأَبِ السُّدُسُ سَهْمٌ. " قَالَ الْفَضْلُ بْنُ شَاذَانَ فِي هَذِهِ الْمَسْأَلَةِ وَ مِنَ الدَّلِيلِ عَلَى أَنَّ لِلْأُمِّ الثُّلُثَ مِنْ جَمِيعِ الْمَالِ أَنَّ جَمِيعَ مَنْ خَالَفَنَا لَمْ يَقُولُوا فِي هَذِهِ الْفَرِيضَةِ لِلْأُمِّ السُّدُسُ وَ إِنَّمَا قَالُوا لِلْأُمِّ ثُلُثُ‌ مَا بَقِيَ وَ ثُلُثُ مَا بَقِيَ ه

“About the case of a woman who leaves behind her husband, her mother and father, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is distributed from six shares, one-half, three shares for the husband, one-third, two shares for the mother and one-sixth is for the father.’ “Al-Fadl ibn Shadhan in this issue has said, ‘Of the proof

وَقَعَ بَيْنَ رَجُلَيْنِ مِنْ بَنِي عَمِّي مُنَازَعَةٌ فِي مِيرَاثٍ فَأَشَرْتُ عَلَيْهِمَا بِالْكِتَابِ إِلَيْهِ‌[1] فِي ذَلِكَ لِيَصْدُرَا عَنْ رَأْيِهِ فَكَتَبَا إِلَيْهِ جَمِيعاً جَعَلَنَا اللَّهُ فِدَاكَ مَا تَقُولُ فِي امْرَأَةٍ تَرَكَتْ زَوْجَهَا وَ ابْنَتَهَا لِأَبِيهَا وَ أُمِّهَا وَ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنْ رَأَيْتَ أَنْ تُجِيبَنَا بِمُرِّ الْحَقِّ فَخَرَجَ إِلَيْهِمَا كِتَابٌ‌ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ

‘We pray to Allah to keep our souls in service for your cause, what do you say about the case of a woman who leaves behind her husband and her daughter from her father and mother?’ I said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, if you consider it proper answer us with the bitter truth.’ A letter ca

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع امْرَأَةٌ تَرَكَتْ زَوْجَهَا وَ إِخْوَتَهَا لِأُمِّهَا وَ إِخْوَتَهَا وَ أَخَوَاتِهَا لِأَبِيهَا فَقَالَ لِلزَّوْجِ النِّصْفُ ثَلَاثَةُ أَسْهُمٍ وَ لِلْإِخْوَةِ مِنَ الْأُمِّ الثُّلُثُ الذَّكَرُ وَ الْأُنْثَى فِيهِ سَوَاءٌ وَ بَقِيَ سَهْمٌ فَهُوَ لِلْإِخْوَةِ وَ الْأَخَوَاتِ مِنَ الْأَبِ‌ لِلذَّكَرِ مِثْلُ حَظِّ الْأُنْثَيَيْنِ‌ لِأَنَّ السِّهَامَ لَا تَعُولُ وَ لَا يُنْقَصُ الزَّوْجُ

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a woman who has left behind her husband, brothers from her mother and brothers and sisters from her father. He (the Imam) said, ‘The share of husband is one-half, three shares, the share of brothers from her mother is one-third, male and female receive equal shares

جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع فَسَأَلَهُ عَنِ امْرَأَةٍ تَرَكَتْ زَوْجَهَا وَ إِخْوَتَهَا لِأُمِّهَا وَ أُخْتَهَا لِأَبِيهَا فَقَالَ لِلزَّوْجِ النِّصْفُ ثَلَاثَةُ أَسْهُمٍ وَ لِلْإِخْوَةِ مِنَ الْأُمِّ الثُّلُثُ سَهْمَانِ وَ لِلْأُخْتِ مِنَ الْأَبِ السُّدُسُ سَهْمٌ فَقَالَ لَهُ الرَّجُلُ فَإِنَّ فَرَائِضَ زَيْدٍ وَ فَرَائِضَ الْعَامَّةِ وَ الْقُضَاةِ عَلَى غَيْرِ ذَلِكَ يَا أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ يَقُولُونَ لِلْأُخْتِ

“Once a man came to abu Ja‘far, Alayhi al-Salam, and asked about a woman who has died and left behind her husband, brothers from her mother and her sister from her father. He (the Imam) said, ‘The share of the husband is one-half, three shares, brothers from her mother receive one-third, two shares and the sister from

قُلْتُ لَهُ مَا تَقُولُ فِي امْرَأَةٍ مَاتَتْ وَ تَرَكَتْ زَوْجَهَا وَ إِخْوَتَهَا لِأُمِّهَا وَ إِخْوَةً وَ أَخَوَاتٍ لِأَبِيهَا فَقَالَ لِلزَّوْجِ النِّصْفُ ثَلَاثَةُ أَسْهُمٍ وَ لِإِخْوَتِهَا لِأُمِّهَا الثُّلُثُ سَهْمَانِ الذَّكَرُ وَ الْأُنْثَى فِيهِ سَوَاءٌ وَ بَقِيَ سَهْمٌ فَهُوَ لِلْإِخْوَةِ وَ الْأَخَوَاتِ مِنَ الْأَبِ‌ لِلذَّكَرِ مِثْلُ حَظِّ الْأُنْثَيَيْنِ‌ لِأَنَّ السِّهَامَ لَا تَعُولُ وَ إِنَّ الزَّوْج

“I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about the case of a woman who has left behind her husband, brothers from her mother and brothers and sisters from her father. He (the Imam) said, ‘The share of the husband is one-half, three shares, the share of brothers from her mother is one-third which is two shares; male and female

سَأَلَهُ رَجُلٌ عَنْ أُخْتَيْنِ وَ زَوْجٍ فَقَالَ النِّصْفُ وَ النِّصْفُ فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ أَصْلَحَكَ اللَّهُ قَدْ سَمَّى اللَّهُ لَهُمَا أَكْثَرَ مِنْ هَذَا لَهُمَا الثُّلُثَانِ فَقَالَ مَا تَقُولُ فِي أَخٍ وَ زَوْجٍ فَقَالَ النِّصْفُ وَ النِّصْفُ فَقَالَ أَ لَيْسَ قَدْ سَمَّى اللَّهُ الْمَالَ فَقَالَ‌ وَ هُوَ يَرِثُها إِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَها وَلَدٌ. - عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحُس

هَذِهِ مِنْ أَرْبَعَةِ أَسْهُمٍ لِلْمَرْأَةِ الرُّبُعُ وَ لِلْأُخْتِ سَهْمٌ وَ لِلْجَدِّ سَهْمَانِ.

“About the case of a man who dies and leaves behind his wife, sister and grandfather, abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘This is distributed from four parts, one-fourth for the woman, one share for the sister and two shares for the grandfather.’”

هَذَا مِنْ أَرْبَعَةِ أَسْهُمٍ لِلْمَرْأَةِ الرُّبُعُ وَ لِلْأُخْتِ سَهْمٌ وَ لِلْجَدِّ سَهْمَانِ.

“About the case of a man who dies and leaves behind his wife, sister and his grandfather, abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘It is distributed from four parts. The woman receives one-fourth, the sister receives one share and the grandfather receives two shares.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ امْرَأَةٍ مُمْلَكَةٍ[5] لَمْ‌ يَدْخُلْ بِهَا زَوْجُهَا مَاتَتْ وَ تَرَكَتْ أُمَّهَا وَ أَخَوَيْنِ لَهَا مِنْ أَبِيهَا وَ أُمِّهَا وَ جَدَّهَا أَبَا أُمِّهَا وَ زَوْجَهَا قَالَ يُعْطَى الزَّوْجُ النِّصْفَ وَ تُعْطَى الْأُمُّ الْبَاقِيَ وَ لَا يُعْطَى الْجَدُّ شَيْئاً لِأَنَّ ابْنَتَهُ حَجَبَتْهُ عَنِ الْمِيرَاثِ وَ لَا يُعْطَى الْإِخْوَةُ شَيْئاً.

8. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad and a number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad all from ibn Mahbub from al-Hassan ibn Salih who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, about the case of a woman who is married, but before going to bed with her

كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ ع امْرَأَةٌ مَاتَتْ وَ تَرَكَتْ زَوْجَهَا وَ أَبَوَيْهَا أَوْ جَدَّهَا أَوْ جَدَّتَهَا كَيْفَ يُقْسَمُ مِيرَاثُهَا فَوَقَّعَ ع لِلزَّوْجِ النِّصْفُ وَ مَا بَقِيَ فَلِلْأَبَوَيْنِ وَ قَدْ رُوِيَ أَيْضاً أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص أَطْعَمَ الْجَدَّ وَ الْجَدَّةَ السُّدُسَ.

10. It is narrated from the narrator of the previous Hadith and Ali ibn ‘Abd Allah all from Ibrahim from ‘Abd Allah ibn Ja‘far who has narrated the following: “I once wrote to abu Muhammad, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, and asked that a woman has died leaving behind her husband, her parents or her grandfather or her grandmother; h

قَالَ: إِنِ امْرُؤٌ هَلَكَ وَ تَرَكَ عَمَّتَهُ وَ خَالَتَهُ فَلِلْعَمَّةِ الثُّلُثَانِ وَ لِلْخَالَةِ الثُّلُثُ. قَالَ الْفَضْلُ إِنْ تَرَكَ الْمَيِّتُ عَمَّيْنِ أَحَدُهُمَا لِأَبٍ وَ أُمٍّ وَ الْآخَرُ لِأَبٍ فَالْمَالُ لِلْعَمِّ الَّذِي لِلْأَبِ وَ الْأُمِّ وَ إِنْ تَرَكَ أَعْمَاماً وَ عَمَّاتٍ فَالْمَالُ بَيْنَهُمْ‌ لِلذَّكَرِ مِثْلُ حَظِّ الْأُنْثَيَيْنِ‌ وَ إِنْ تَرَكَ أَخْوَالًا وَ خَالاتٍ فَالْمَالُ بَيْنَهُمُ

الْمِيرَاثُ كُلُّهُ لِزَوْجِهَا.

The entire legacy belongs to the husband.’”

كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَدَعَا بِالْجَامِعَةِ فَنَظَرْنَا فِيهَا فَإِذَا فِيهَا امْرَأَةٌ هَلَكَتْ وَ تَرَكَتْ زَوْجَهَا لَا وَارِثَ لَهَا غَيْرُهُ لَهُ الْمَالُ كُلُّهُ.

“I once was with abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and he (the Imam) asked for al-Jami‘ah (the renown book of Ali (a.s.) ). We looked in it and found this case: ‘If a woman dies leaving behind just her husband and no other heirs, the entire legacy belongs to him (the husband).”’

الْمَالُ لِلزَّوْجِ يَعْنِي إِذَا لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهَا وَارِثٌ غَيْرُهُ. - عَنْهُ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ جَبَلَةَ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ.

“About the case of a woman who dies leaving behind just her husband, abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘The entire legacy belongs to him (the husband) if no other heirs exist.’” It is narrated from the narrator of the previous Hadith from ‘Abd Allah ibn Jabalah from Ali ibn abu Hamzah from abu Basir a similar Hadith.

الْمَالُ لِلزَّوْجِ يَعْنِي إِذَا لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهَا وَارِثٌ غَيْرُهُ.

“About the case of a woman who dies leaving behind just her husband, abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘The entire legacy belongs to him (the husband) if no other heirs exist.’”

قُلْتُ امْرَأَةٌ مَاتَتْ وَ تَرَكَتْ زَوْجَهَا قَالَ الْمَالُ لَهُ قَالَ مَعْنَاهُ لَا وَارِثَ لَهَا غَيْرُهُ.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a woman who dies and leaves behind just her husband. He (the Imam) said, ‘The legacy belongs to him.’ He said, ‘It means that there are no other heirs besides the husband.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع- عَنِ امْرَأَةٍ تَمُوتُ وَ لَا تَتْرُكُ وَارِثاً غَيْرَ زَوْجِهَا قَالَ الْمِيرَاثُ كُلُّهُ لَهُ.

“I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about the case of a woman who dies and does not leave behind any heirs except her husband. He (the Imam) said, ‘The legacy entirely belongs to him (the husband).”’

قُلْتُ لَهُ امْرَأَةٌ هَلَكَتْ وَ تَرَكَتْ زَوْجَهَا قَالَ الْمَالُ كُلُّهُ لِلزَّوْجِ.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a woman who dies leaving behind her husband. He (the Imam) said, ‘All of her asset belongs to her husband.’”

مَاتَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ بَيَّاعُ السَّابِرِيِّ وَ أَوْصَى إِلَيَّ وَ تَرَكَ امْرَأَةً لَهُ وَ لَمْ يَتْرُكْ وَارِثاً غَيْرَهَا فَكَتَبْتُ إِلَى الْعَبْدِ الصَّالِحِ ع فَكَتَبَ إِلَيَّ أَعْطِ الْمَرْأَةَ الرُّبُعَ وَ احْمِلِ الْبَاقِيَ إِلَيْنَا.

“Muhammad Ibn Abi ‘Umayr Bayya‘ al-Sabiriy died and he made a will to me. He left behind his wife and no other heirs. I wrote to the virtuous servant (of Allah) about it and he (the Imam) wrote to me the answer that said, ‘Give one-fourth to the woman (his wife) and deliver the rest to us.’”

قَرَأَ عَلَيَّ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع فِي الْفَرَائِضِ امْرَأَةٌ تُوُفِّيَتْ وَ تَرَكَتْ زَوْجَهَا قَالَ الْمَالُ كُلُّهُ لِلزَّوْجِ وَ رَجُلٌ تُوُفِّيَ وَ تَرَكَ امْرَأَتَهُ قَالَ لِلْمَرْأَةِ الرُّبُعُ وَ مَا بَقِيَ فَلِلْإِمَامِ.

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), once read for me (from the book) on the issue of ordained shares of inheritance the following: ‘A woman dies and leaves behind her husband,’ he (the Imam) said, ‘The entire legacy belongs to him. If a man dies and leaves behind his wife, he (the Imam) said that one- fourth belongs to her and the res

لِلْمَرْأَةِ الرُّبُعُ وَ مَا بَقِيَ فَلِلْإِمَامِ.

About the case of a woman who dies and leaves behind her husband, abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘One-fourth belongs to the woman and the rest belongs to the Imam.’”

كَتَبَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَمْزَةَ الْعَلَوِيُّ إِلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ الثَّانِي ع‌ مَوْلًى لَكَ أَوْصَى إِلَيَّ بِمِائَةِ دِرْهَمٍ وَ كُنْتُ أَسْمَعُهُ يَقُولُ كُلُّ شَيْ‌ءٍ هُوَ لِي فَهُوَ لِمَوْلَايَ فَمَاتَ وَ تَرَكَهَا وَ لَمْ‌ يَأْمُرْ فِيهَا بِشَيْ‌ءٍ وَ لَهُ امْرَأَتَانِ أَمَّا إِحْدَاهُمَا فَبِبَغْدَادَ وَ لَا أَعْرِفُ لَهَا مَوْضِعاً السَّاعَةَ وَ الْأُخْرَى بِقُمَّ فَمَا الَّذِي تَأْمُرُنِي فِي هَذِهِ الْمِائَةِ

“Once Muhammad ibn Hamzah al-‘Alawiy wrote to abu Ja‘far, al-Thaniy (a.s.), and asked, ‘One of your Mawla made a will to me about a hundred dirham and I heard him say, ‘Everything that belongs to me is for my Mawla.’ He died and left it but did not instruct to give anything from it. He has two women of whom one is in B