ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Al-mizan an Exegesis of the Qur'an (volume Eight) Traditions 'Abd ibn Hamid, al-Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud, at-Tirmidhi, an-Nasa'i, Ibn Majah, Ibn Jarir, Ibnu 'l-Mundhir, Ibn Abi Hatim and al-Bayhaqi (in his as-Sunan) have narrated from Jabir ibn 'Abdillah, that he said: "The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) and Abu Bakr came walking to visit me (in my illness) in Banu Salamah.

The Prophet found me unconscious; so he called for some water and made ablution with it; then he sprinkled (it) on me, and I gained consciousness. So I said: 'What do you order me to do with my property?

O Messenger of Allah!' Then (the verse) came down: Allah enjoins you concerning your children: The male shall have the equal of the portion of two females." (ad-Durru 'l-manthur) The author says: It has been repeatedly mentioned that it is possible for several "reasons of revelation" (which have been narrated to us) to combine in respect of one verse; nor is there any difficulty if the verse goes beyond the scope of those specific reasons; also possibly an event might have coincided with the revelation and the theme of the verse corresponded with that happening.

Therefore, there is no difficulty in the above tradition because of Jabir's report that he had asked: "What do you order me to do with my property? O Messenger of Allah!", and then this verse was revealed. We should not worry how Jabir could have asked that question when the division of inheritance was not his responsibility.

Even more strange is another tradition narrated in the same book through 'Abd ibn Hamid and al-Hakim from Jabir that he said: "The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) used to visit me when I was sick.

So I said: 'How should I divide my property among my children?' But he did not give me any reply; and then the verse was revealed: Allah enjoins you concerning your children..." Ibn Jarir and Ibn Abi Hatim have narrated from as-Suddi that he said: "The People of (the era of) ignorance did not give inheritance to the girls, nor to weak boys. Only that man inherited his father who had strength to (participate in) war.

Then Abdu 'r-Rahman, brother of the poet Hassan, died, leaving a wife, named Umm Kuhhah, and five girls. (Other) heirs came and took away the inheritance. Umm Kuhhah complained to the Prophet about it.