The inheritance law in Islam and the Bible:
The sections of this article are:
1- Inheritance in Islam.
2- Inheritance in the Bible.
3- Conclusion.
1- Inheritance in Islam:
In Islam, the male inherits double the female, because the man is legally responsible for his parents, wife, children, divorcee (for a period of time), sisters (single or widowed), and his aunts. He can be sued in court by any of these people if he neglects them, and the court would enforce payments upon him to them. The following Noble Verses provide the evidence for this:
| Noble Verse(s) 4:34 |
| Yusuf
Ali: [004:034] Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because God has given the one more (strength) than the other, and because they support them from their means. Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient, and guard in (the husband's) absence what God would have them guard. As to those women on whose part ye fear disloyalty and ill-conduct, admonish them (first), (Next), refuse to share their beds, (And last) beat them (lightly); but if they return to obedience, seek not against them Means (of annoyance): For God is Most High, great (above you all). Arabic (from right to left): 4:34 الرجال قوامون على النساء بما فضل الله بعضهم على بعض وبما انفقوا من اموالهم فالصالحات قانتات حافظات للغيب بما حفظ الله واللاتي تخافون نشوزهن فعظوهن واهجروهن في المضاجع واضربوهن فان اطعنكم فلاتبغوا عليهن سبيلا ان الله كان عليا كبيرا |
As to the beating of the defiant and disloyal wives, please visit:
| Noble Verse(s) 4:11-4:12 |
| Yusuf
Ali: [004:011] God (thus) directs you as regards your Children's (Inheritance): to the male, a portion equal to that of two females: if only daughters, two or more, their share is two-thirds of the inheritance; if only one, her share is a half. For parents, a sixth share of the inheritance to each, if the deceased left children; if no children, and the parents are the (only) heirs, the mother has a third; if the deceased Left brothers (or sisters) the mother has a sixth. (The distribution in all cases Is) after the payment of legacies and debts. Ye know not whether your parents or your children are nearest to you in benefit. These are settled portions ordained by God; and God is All-knowing, Al- wise. [004:012] In what your wives leave, your share is a half, if they leave no child; but if they leave a child, ye get a fourth; after payment of legacies and debts. In what ye leave, their (the widow) share is a fourth, if ye leave no child; but if ye leave a child, they get an eighth; after payment of legacies and debts. If the man or woman whose inheritance is in question, has left neither ascendants nor descendants, but has left a brother or a sister, each one of the two gets a sixth; but if more than two, they share in a third; after payment of legacies and debts; so that no loss is caused (to any one). Thus is it ordained by God; and God is All-knowing, Most Forbearing.Arabic (from right to left): 4:11 يوصيكم الله في اولادكم للذكر مثل حظ الانثيين فان كن نساء فوق اثنتين فلهن ثلثا ماترك وان كانت واحدة فلها النصف ولابويه لكل واحد منهما السدس مما ترك ان كان له ولد فان لم يكن له ولد وورثه ابواه فلامه الثلث فان كان له اخوة فلامه السدس من بعد وصية يوصي بها او دين اباؤكم وابناؤكم لاتدرون ايهم اقرب لكم نفعا فريضة من الله ان الله كان عليما حكيما4:12 ولكم نصف ماترك ازواجكم ان لم يكن لهن ولد فان كان لهن ولد فلكم الربع مما تركن من بعد وصية يوصين بها او دين ولهن الربع مما تركتم ان لم يكن لكم ولد فان كان لكم ولد فلهن الثمن مما تركتم من بعد وصية توصون بها او دين وان كان رجل يورث كلالة او امراة وله اخ او اخت فلكل واحد منهما السدس فان كانوا اكثر من ذلك فهم شركاء في الثلث من بعد وصية يوصى بهااو دين غير مضار وصية من الله والله عليم حليم |
Notice here how the parents of the deceased, his wife and children all inherit.
2- Inheritance in the Bible:
The Bible is clear about if sons exist, then the daughters inherit nothing:
Numbers 27
8 "Say to the Israelites, 'If
a man dies and leaves no son, turn his inheritance over to his
daughter.
9
If he has no daughter, give his inheritance to his brothers.
10 If he has no brothers, give his inheritance to his father's brothers.
11 If his father had no brothers, give his inheritance to the nearest relative
in his clan, that he may possess it. This is to be a legal requirement for the
Israelites, as the LORD commanded Moses.' "
Notice how the wife (widow) inherits nothing. And notice how the daughter only inherits when no sons exist. Also, the oldest son inherits double the younger son:
Deuteronomy 21
15 If a man has two wives, and he loves one but not
the other, and both bear him sons but the firstborn is the son of the wife he
does not love,
16 when he wills his property to his sons, he must not give the rights of the
firstborn to the son of the wife he loves in preference to his actual firstborn,
the son of the wife he does not love.
17 He must acknowledge the son of his unloved wife as
the firstborn by giving him
a double share of all he has.
That son is the first sign of his father's strength. The right of the firstborn
belongs to him.
3- Conclusion:
It is quite clear that in Islam, the the man is responsible for the women of his immediate family. Also, the parents of the deceased, his wife and children all inherit.
In the Bible, on the other hand, the widow and the deceased parents inherit nothing as long as children exist. And if sons exist, then daughters inherit nothing. And the oldest son gets double the younger son.
Back to Women in Islam and Christianity.
Is wife-beating allowed in Islam?
Where in the entire Bible is wife-beating forbidden? Jesus himself witnessed it and never once denounced it.