" He was asked: "And which of them has been given priority by Allah?

" He was asked: "And which of them has been given priority by Allah?" He said: "Every share which Allah has not brought down from a prescribed share but to (another) prescribed share, then that is which has been given precedence by Allah; and every share that - when it leaves its (original) position - does not get except the residue, then it is (the share) which Allah has put behind.

Thus the share that is given precedence is like that of husband, wife and mother; and that which is put behind is like that of sisters and daughters.

Therefore, if there gather together those who have been given precedence by Allah and those who have been placed behind, the division should begin with those having precedence, and he shall be given his complete share; then if something remains (of the property) it shall be for those [who have been placed behind] and if nothing is left they shall get nothing." (ad-Durru 'l-manthur) Said ibn Mansur narrated from Ibn 'Abbas that he said: "Do you suppose that He Who knows the number of the sands of the valley, 'Alij, has prescribed in the property one half, plus one-third plus one-fourth?" (ibid.) 'Ata' says: "I said to Ibn 'Abbas: 'People do not follow my word or your word; and when you and I shall be dead, they will not divide the inheritance according to your verdict.' He replied: 'Then let them gather, and then we (i.e., both parties) should put our hands on the rukn (of the Ka'bah), then we should earnestly pray and put the curse of Allah on the liars.

Allah has not ordered that which they say.' " (ibid.) The author says: This theme has been narrated from Ibn 'Abbas also through the Shi'i chains, as is quoted below. az-Zuhri quotes 'Ubaydullah ibn 'Abdillah ibn 'Utbah as saying: "I was sitting with Ibn 'Abbas when the talk turned towards description of inheritance-shares. Ibn 'Abbas said: 'Allah, the Great, be praised!

Do you think that He Who knows the number of the sands of (the valley) 'Alij, has appointed one-half plus one-third in a property? Well, these two halves have finished the whole property; now where is the slot of the (remaining) one-third?' Zufar ibn Aws al-Basri then asked him: 'O Abu 'l-'Abbas! Who was then the first to reduce these shares?' He said: ' 'Umar ibn al-Khattab. When several shares gathered near him, pushing each other, he said: "By Allah!

I do not know which of you Allah has given precedence to, and which of you He has deferred.