What has been Related About The Inheritance For The Grandmother Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2100

Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2100
Arabic hadith text
حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ، قال حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، قال حَدَّثَنَا الزُّهْرِيُّ، قَالَ مَرَّةً قَالَ قَبِيصَةُ وَقَالَ مَرَّةً رَجُلٌ عَنْ قَبِيصَةَ بْنِ ذُؤَيْبٍ قَالَ جَاءَتِ الْجَدَّةُ أُمُّ الأُمِّ أَوْ أُمُّ الأَبِ إِلَى أَبِي بَكْرٍ فَقَالَتْ إِنَّ ابْنَ ابْنِي أَوِ ابْنَ بِنْتِي مَاتَ وَقَدْ أُخْبِرْتُ أَنَّ لِي فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ حَقًّا ‏.‏ فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ مَا أَجِدُ لَكِ فِي الْكِتَابِ مِنْ حَقٍّ وَمَا سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَضَى لَكِ بِشَيْءٍ وَسَأَسْأَلُ النَّاسَ ‏.‏ قَالَ فَسَأَلَ فَشَهِدَ الْمُغِيرَةُ بْنُ شُعْبَةَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلمأَعْطَاهَا السُّدُسَ ‏.‏ قَالَ وَمَنْ سَمِعَ ذَلِكَ مَعَكَ قَالَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ ‏.‏ قَالَ فَأَعْطَاهَا السُّدُسَثُمَّ جَاءَتِ الْجَدَّةُ الأُخْرَى الَّتِي تُخَالِفُهَا إِلَى عُمَرَ ‏.‏ قَالَ سُفْيَانُ وَزَادَنِي فِيهِ مَعْمَرٌ عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ وَلَمْ أَحْفَظْهُ عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ وَلَكِنْ حَفِظْتُهُ مِنْ مَعْمَرٍ أَنَّ عُمَرَ قَالَ إِنِ اجْتَمَعْتُمَا فَهُوَ لَكُمَا وَأَيَّتُكُمَا انْفَرَدَتْ بِهِ فَهُوَ لَهَا
Translation
Qabisah bin Dhuw'aib said

"A grandmother - the mother of a mother, or the mother of a father - came to Abu Bakr and she said: 'a son of my son' - or, 'a son of my daughter died, and I have been informed that there is a right ( from the wealth) for me in the Book.' So Abu Bakr said: 'I do not find that there is a right for you in the Book, and I have not heard that the Messenger of Allah(S.A.W) judged anything for you. I shall ask the people.' So, Al-Mughirah bin Shu'bah testified that the Messenger of Allah(S.A.W) gave her (case) a sixth. He said: 'And who heard that along with you?' He said: 'Muhammad bin Maslamah.'" He said: "So he gave her a sixth. Then the other grandmother who was left behind came to 'Umar." Sufyan said: "And Ma'mar said to me in addition, from Az-Zuhri - and I do not remember it to be from Az-Zuhri, rather I remember it to be from Ma'mar - that 'Umar said: 'If the two of you are together then it is for both of you, and whichever of you is alone with it (the sixth), then it is for her.'"

Commentary

Overview & Central Theme

This hadith from Jami` at-Tirmidhi (2100) addresses the inheritance share of the grandmother (al-jaddah) in Islamic law. The central theme is the establishment of a fixed one-sixth share for the grandmother—whether maternal or paternal—based on the Prophet's ﷺ judgment, as transmitted through the companions. It highlights the importance of collective testimony, scholarly inquiry, and the preservation of Prophetic rulings in matters not explicitly detailed in the Qur'an. The narration also demonstrates the companions' meticulous approach to legal precedent, ensuring that no ruling was issued without authentic evidence.

Context & Linguistic Insights

The hadith occurs during the caliphate of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him), when a grandmother sought her inheritance right after the death of her grandson. The Arabic term "jaddah" (جدة) refers to the grandmother, and the narration specifies "the mother of a mother" (umm al-umm) or "the mother of a father" (umm al-ab). The key phrase "a sixth" (السُّدُس) denotes the fixed share of one-sixth. Abu Bakr's initial hesitation reflects his cautious methodology: he sought explicit textual evidence from the Qur'an or Sunnah. The testimony of al-Mughirah ibn Shu'bah, corroborated by Muhammad ibn Maslamah, illustrates the principle of multiple witnesses (tazkiyah) in establishing legal rulings. The additional report from Ma'mar regarding 'Umar's ruling—that two grandmothers share the sixth, but one alone takes it entirely—clarifies the distribution when both maternal and paternal grandmothers are present.

Key Scholarly Insights & Legal Benefits

  • Establishment of a fixed share: The grandmother inherits one-sixth (1/6) of the estate when there is no mother or closer heir, based on the Prophet's ﷺ explicit judgment, even though this is not mentioned in the Qur'an.
  • Principle of corroborated testimony: A single companion's report was deemed insufficient until a second witness confirmed it, demonstrating the rigorous standard for accepting legal narrations (khabar al-ahad).
  • Scholarly consensus (ijma): The companions and later jurists (fuqaha) unanimously agreed on the grandmother's sixth, with differences only in details, such as whether both grandmothers share it or only the nearer one inherits in the presence of the other.
  • Role of ijtihad: Abu Bakr's consultation of the companions (istishar) and 'Umar's subsequent clarification show the dynamic process of deriving rulings from primary sources.
"Imam Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani said in Fath al-Bari: 'This hadith is a fundamental proof for the inheritance of the grandmother, and it is a clear example of how the Sunnah supplements the Qur'an. The companions' verification of the report before acting upon it underscores the importance of authentic transmission in Islamic jurisprudence.'"

Daily Life & Spiritual Application

For the modern Muslim, this hadith teaches the importance of honoring family ties (silat al-rahim) and ensuring that the rights of relatives—especially the elderly, like grandmothers—are fulfilled justly. It encourages believers to seek knowledge from qualified scholars and to verify information before acting, reflecting the companions' caution. Practically, one should ensure that inheritance is distributed according to Shariah, consulting reliable scholars when uncertainties arise. Spiritually, it reminds us that Allah's law is comprehensive, addressing even the minutest details of human relations, and that the Prophet's ﷺ example is the perfect guide. By upholding these rights with sincerity and excellence (ihsan), we embody the justice and mercy that Islam instills in every aspect of life.