Laws of Inheritance (Al-Faraa'id) - Sahih al-Bukhari 6732

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Give the Fara'id (the shares of the inheritance that are prescribed in the Qur'an) to those who are entitled to receive it. Then whatever remains, should be given to the closest male relative of the deceased."

Commentary on the Hadith

This noble hadith establishes the fundamental principle of Islamic inheritance law. The term "Fara'id" refers to the fixed shares allocated by Allah in the Qur'an to specific heirs, which take precedence over all other claims.

The first obligation is to distribute these prescribed shares to the designated heirs mentioned in Surah An-Nisa. Only after fulfilling these divine allocations may one consider the residual estate.

The phrase "closest male relative" refers to the 'Asabah (agnatic relatives) who inherit what remains after the fixed shares have been distributed. This demonstrates the comprehensive nature of Islamic inheritance that ensures no estate remains unclaimed.

Legal Implications

This teaching emphasizes that the Qur'anic shares are mandatory and cannot be altered or bypassed. The fixed heirs must receive their portions before any other distribution occurs.

The sequence established - first the prescribed shares, then the residue to male agnates - prevents disputes and ensures justice according to divine wisdom rather than human preference.

Scholarly Consensus

All four schools of Islamic jurisprudence agree on this fundamental principle. The differences among scholars occur only in detailed applications, not in the core principle established by this hadith.

This narration serves as the foundation for the entire science of Islamic inheritance law, demonstrating the perfection and completeness of Allah's legislative wisdom.