The verse ends on words...

The verse ends on words, "a decreed share"; it is a circumstantial clause, related to the preceding word, "a share", as it contains a connotation of masdar; it gives a double emphasis and makes the declaration even more clear that the shares are definitely fixed, and there is no room for any confusion or ambiguity.

It has been proved with this verse that the general law of inheritance covers the estate of the Prophet as well as of other Muslims, and that the doctrine of at-ta'sib (giving preference of agnates) is invalid. QUR'AN: And when there are present. . . kind words: Apparently the verse refers to these people's presence at the time when the heirs are dividing the estate among themselves, and not to their presence near the dying person when he is bequeathing his estate - as someone has written.

Accordingly, "the relatives ", would refer to the poor among them; it is also proved from the fact that they have been mentioned with the orphans and the needy. The tone of the clauses, "give them (something) out of it and speak to them kind words," obviously exhorts the hearers to mercy and kindness, and therefore it is addressed to the heirs and executors of the will.

There is a difference of opinion whether the order given in this verse (to give those people something from the estate) is obligatory or only a desirable act. It is a matter of jurisprudence beyond the scope of this book. Also there is disagreement whether the verse is decisive or has been abrogated by the verse of inheritance.

But the relation between the two verses is not that of contradiction, because the verse of inheritance fixes the shares of the heirs, and this verse speaks about the non-heirs - either as obligation or recommendation - without fixing any share; therefore there is no ground for saying that it was abrogated, and especially if the described "giving" is only a recommendation - as the verse somewhat apparently shows. QUR'AN: And let those fear. . .

speak right words: Fear is a psychological effect caused by nearness of a somewhat great danger or evil; as-sadad and as-sadad of a talk means its being right, correct, straight, relevant. Probably the verse has a sort of connection with the previous one, "Men shall have. . .", because that verse with its generality contains the laws of the orphans' inheritance; now this one in a way is a warning and a threat to him who wants to follow the old system of depriving small heirs of inheritance.