Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Give the Fara'id (shares prescribed in the Qur'an) to those who are entitled to receive it; and whatever remains, should be given to the closest male relative of the deceased.'
Exposition of the Hadith
This noble hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari establishes the fundamental principle of Islamic inheritance law. The Prophet (ﷺ) commands that fixed shares (Fara'id) from the Qur'an must be distributed first to designated heirs, with any remainder going to the closest male agnate relative ('Asabah).
Explanation of Key Terms
Fara'id: These are the fixed shares ordained by Allah in Surah an-Nisa (4:11-12). They include shares for spouses, parents, daughters, and other specific relatives whose portions are mathematically defined in the Qur'an.
Closest Male Relative: Known as 'Asabah in Islamic jurisprudence, these are male relatives who inherit what remains after distribution of fixed shares. They follow a specific order of priority based on closeness of relation to the deceased.
Legal Methodology
The distribution follows a precise sequence: First, allocate prescribed shares to Qur'anic heirs. Second, if any estate remains, distribute it among male agnates according to their proximity. Third, if no male agnates exist, the residue returns to the fixed-share heirs proportionally.
Scholarly Commentary
Imam al-Bukhari placed this hadith in the "Book of Laws of Inheritance (Al-Faraa'id)" to emphasize its foundational nature. Classical scholars like Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani explain that this hadith establishes the hierarchy of inheritance rights, ensuring both divine prescription and natural kinship rights are honored.
The wisdom behind this system balances between specific divine allocations and the natural support system provided by male relatives who traditionally bear financial responsibilities in Islamic society.