Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

They ask thee for a ruling. Say thou: “God gives you the ruling concerning those without an immediate heir: if a man perishes without a child but has a sister: for her is half of what he left, and he inherits from her if she has not a child. But if there are two females: for them is two-thirds of what he left. And if they are brethren, men and women: for the male is the like of the share of two females.” And God makes plain to you lest you go astray; and God knows all things.

يَسْتَفْتُونَكَۜ قُلِ اللّٰهُ يُفْت۪يكُمْ فِي الْكَلَالَةِۜ اِنِ امْرُؤٌا هَلَكَ لَيْسَ لَهُ وَلَدٌ وَلَهُٓ اُخْتٌ فَلَهَا نِصْفُ مَا تَرَكَۚ وَهُوَ يَرِثُـهَٓا اِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهَا وَلَدٌۜ فَاِنْ كَانَتَا اثْنَتَيْنِ فَلَهُمَا الثُّلُثَانِ مِمَّا تَرَكَۜ وَاِنْ كَانُٓوا اِخْوَةً رِجَالاً وَنِسَٓاءً فَلِلذَّكَرِ مِثْلُ حَظِّ الْاُنْثَيَيْنِۜ يُبَيِّنُ اللّٰهُ لَكُمْ اَنْ تَضِلُّواۜ وَاللّٰهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَل۪يمٌ
Yastaftoonaka quli Allahu yufteekumfee alkalalati ini imruon halaka laysa lahu waladun walahuokhtun falaha nisfu ma taraka wahuwayarithuha in lam yakun laha waladun fa-in kanataithnatayni falahuma aththuluthani mimmataraka wa-in kanoo ikhwatan rijalan wanisaanfaliththakari mithlu haththialonthayayni yubayyinu Allahu lakum an tadilloo wallahubikulli shay-in AAaleem
#wordmeaningroot
1yastaftūnakaThey seek your rulingفتي
2quliSayقول
3l-lahuAllah
4yuf'tīkumgives you a rulingفتي
5concerning
6l-kalālatithe Kalalaكلل
7iniif
8im'ru-ona manمرا
9halakadiedهلك
10laysa(and) notليس
11lahuhe has
12waladuna childولد
13walahuand he has
14ukh'tuna sisterاخو
15falahāthen for her
16niṣ'fu(is) a halfنصف
17(of) what
18tarakahe leftترك
19wahuwaAnd he
20yarithuhāwill inherit from herورث
21inif
22lamnot
23yakunisكون
24lahāfor her
25waladuna childولد
26fa-inBut if
27kānatāthere wereكون
28ith'nataynitwo femalesثني
29falahumāthen for them
30l-thuluthānitwo thirdsثلث
31mimmāof what
32tarakahe leftترك
33wa-inBut if
34kānūthey wereكون
35ikh'watanbrothers and sistersاخو
36rijālanmenرجل
37wanisāanand womenنسو
38falildhakarithen the male will haveذكر
39mith'lulikeمثل
40ḥaẓẓishareحظظ
41l-unthayayni(of) the two femalesانث
42yubayyinumakes clearبين
43l-lahuAllah
44lakumto you
45anlest
46taḍillūyou go astrayضلل
47wal-lahuAnd Allah
48bikulliof everyكلل
49shayinthingشيا
50ʿalīmun(is) All-Knowerعلم
  • Aisha Bewley

    They will ask you for a fatwa. Say: ‘Allah gives you a fatwa about people who die without direct heirs: If a man dies childless but has a sister she receives half of what he leaves, and he is her heir if she dies childless. If there are two sisters they receive two-thirds of what he leaves. If there are brothers and sisters the males receive the share of two females. Allah makes things clear to you so you will not go astray. Allah has knowledge of all things.’

  • Progressive Muslims

    They seek a ruling from you, Say: "God gives you the ruling for those who have no descendants. If a person passes away and has no children but has a sister, then she shall receive half of what he leaves behind. And he will inherit her fully if she has no child. However, if he has two sisters, then they will receive two thirds of what he left behind; and if he has siblings, male and female, then the male shall receive twice what the female receives." God makes clear to you that you do not stray; God is aware of all things.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    They ask you about the inheritance of a person who is survived by neither ascendants nor descendants. If one dies and leaves no children, and he had a sister, she gets half the inheritance. If she dies first, he inherits from her if she left no children. If there were two sisters they get two-thirds of the inheritance, if there are sisters and brothers, the brother would get twice the share of the sister for reasons already explained (2:80), (4:11). Allah clarifies the Laws so that you might not go astray. Allah is the Knower of all things.

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    They ask thee for a ruling. Say thou: “God gives you the ruling concerning those without an immediate heir: if a man perishes without a child but has a sister: for her is half of what he left, and he inherits from her if she has not a child. But if there are two females: for them is two-thirds of what he left. And if they are brethren, men and women: for the male is the like of the share of two females.” And God makes plain to you lest you go astray; and God knows all things.

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    They seek a ruling from you, say: "God gives you the ruling for those who have no ascendants. If a person passes away and has no children but has a sister, then she shall receive half of what he leaves behind; and he will inherit from her if she has no child. However, if he has two sisters, then they will receive two thirds of what he left behind; and if he has siblings, men and women, then the male shall receive twice what the female receives." God makes clear to you that you do not stray; God is aware of all things.

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    They seek a ruling from you, say, "God gives you the ruling for those who have no descendants. If a person passes away and has no children but has a sister, then she shall receive half of what he leaves behind. He will inherit her fully if she has no child. However, if he has two sisters, then they will receive two thirds of what he left behind; and if he has siblings, male and female, then the male shall receive twice what the female receives." God makes clear to you that you do not stray; God is aware of all things.

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    They consult you; say, "GOD advises you concerning the single person. If one dies and leaves no children, and he had a sister, she gets half the inheritance. If she dies first, he inherits from her, if she left no children. If there were two sisters, they get two-thirds of the inheritance. If the siblings are men and women, the male gets twice the share of the female." GOD thus clarifies for you, lest you go astray. GOD is fully aware of all things.

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    They ask you for judgement about 'Kalalah' (a man who dies childless). Say: "God has given a decision in the matter of inheritance." If a man dies and leaves no child behind but have a sister, she will get a half of what he owned, as he would have done the whole of what she possessed if she had died a childless person. In ease he has two sisters then they will get two-thirds of the heritage. But if he has both brothers and sisters, the male will inherit a share equal to that of two females. God makes this manifest to you lest you wander astray, for God has knowledge of everything.

  • Sahih International (Umm Muhammad, Mary Kennedy, Amatullah Bantley)

    They request from you a ruling. Say, " Allah gives you a ruling concerning one having neither descendants nor ascendants ." If a man dies, leaving no child but a sister, she will have half of what he left. And he inherits from her if she has no child. But if there are two sisters , they will have two-thirds of what he left. If there are both brothers and sisters, the male will have the share of two females. Allah makes clear to you , lest you go astray. And Allah is Knowing of all things.

  • Muhammad Asad

    THEY WILL ASK thee to enlighten them. Say: "God enlightens you about the laws concerning those who leave no heir in the direct line: If a man dies childless and has a sister, she shall inherit one-half of what he has left, just as he shall inherit from her if she dies childless. But if there are two sisters, both shall have two-thirds of what he has left; and if there are brothers and sisters, then the male shall have the equal of two females' share." God makes clear unto you, lest you go astray; and God knows everything.

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    They ask thee for a pronouncement. Say: Allah hath pronounced for you concerning distant kindred. If a man die childless and he have a sister, hers is half the heritage, and he would have inherited from her had she died childless. And if there be two sisters, then theirs are two-thirds of the heritage, and if they be brethren, men and women, unto the male is the equivalent of the share of two females. Allah expoundeth unto you, so that ye err not. Allah is Knower of all things.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    People* ask you to pronounce a ruling concerning inheritance from those who have left behind no lineal heirs (kalalah).* Say: 'Allah pronounces for you the ruling: should a man die childless but have a sister,* she shall have one half of what he has left behind; and should the sister die childless, his brother shall inherit her.* And if the heirs are two sisters, they shall have two-thirds of what he has left behind.* And if the heirs are sisters and brothers, then the male shall have the share of two females. Allah makes (His commandments) clear to you lest you go astray. Allah has full knowledge of everything.

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    They -your people- seek counsel from you O Muhammad concerning the deceased who is childless and fatherless. Say to them: "Allah’s decretal reply to your question concerns the childless and fatherless is formally announced, thus: If a man dies and he has no child nor a father but he has a sister, then she has the rightful claim to one half of what he has left." And should the reverse be the case then he inherits all her property if she has no child. And if the deceased in question has two sisters or more, then they go share and share alike in two thirds of what he left. And if they are a mixed company of men and women - brothers and sisters, then the general principle of inheritance applies; the male inherits the equivalent of what is apportioned to two females. Allah sets forth for you in detail the principles governing hereditary succession to property so that you do not go wrong, and Allah is 'Alimun of all in all.

  • Bijan Moeinian

    When they ask you about the division of the inheritance of a childless person, say: "If the deceased is a man, his sister will get half of the inheritance. If the deceased is a woman, her brother will get all the inheritance. If the deceased man has two sisters, they will inherit two-thirds of the inheritance and if there are more than two brothers and sisters involved, the share of each brother will be twice as much as the share of each sister." God thus makes His commandments plain so that you do not have any doubt about your duties. God has perfect knowledge over everything

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    They ask you for a legal verdict. Say: "Allâh directs (thus) about Al-Kalâlah (those who leave neither descendants nor ascendants as heirs). If it is a man that dies leaving a sister, but no child, she shall have half the inheritance. If (such a deceased was) a woman, who left no child, her brother takes her inheritance. If there are two sisters, they shall have two-thirds of the inheritance; if there are brothers and sisters, the male will have twice the share of the female. (Thus) does Allâh make clear to you (His Law) lest you go astray. And Allâh is the All-Knower of everything."

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    They ask thee for a legal decision. Say: Allah directs (thus) about those who leave no descendants or ascendants as heirs. If it is a man that dies, leaving a sister but no child, she shall have half the inheritance: If (such a deceased was) a woman, who left no child, Her brother takes her inheritance: If there are two sisters, they shall have two-thirds of the inheritance (between them): if there are brothers and sisters, (they share), the male having twice the share of the female. Thus doth Allah make clear to you (His law), lest ye err. And Allah hath knowledge of all things.

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    They ask you ˹for a ruling, O  Prophet˺. Say, "Allah gives you a ruling regarding those who die without children or parents." If a man dies childless and leaves behind a sister, she will inherit one-half of his estate, whereas her brother will inherit all of her estate if she dies childless. If this person leaves behind two sisters, they together will inherit two-thirds of the estate. But if the deceased leaves male and female siblings, a male’s share will be equal to that of two females. Allah makes ˹this˺ clear to you so you do not go astray. And Allah has ˹perfect˺ knowledge of all things.

  • Taqi Usmani

    They seek a ruling from you. Say, "Allah gives you the ruling concerning Kalālah. If a person dies having no son, but he does have a sister, then, she will get one half of what he leaves. (On the other hand) He will inherit her if she has no child. If they are two (sisters), they will get two third of what he leaves. If they are brothers and sisters, both male and female, then, the male will get a share equal to that of two females." Allah explains to you, lest you should go astray. Allah has full knowledge of everything.

  • Abdul Haleem

    They ask you for a ruling. Say, ‘God gives you a ruling about inheritance from someone who dies childless with no surviving parents. If a man leaves a sister, she is entitled to half of the inheritance; if she has no child her brother is her sole heir; if there are two sisters, they are entitled to two-thirds of the inheritance between them, but if there are surviving brothers and sisters, the male is entitled to twice the share of the female. God makes this clear to you so that you do not make mistakes: He has full knowledge of everything.’

  • Arthur John Arberry

    They will ask thee for a pronouncement. Say: 'God pronounces to you concerning the indirect heirs. If a man perishes having no children, but he has a sister, she shall receive a half of what he leaves, and he is her heir if she has no children. If there be two sisters, they shall receive two-thirds of what he leaves; if there be brothers and sisters, the male shall receive the portion of two females. God makes clear to you, lest you go astray; God has knowledge of everything.

  • E. Henry Palmer

    They will ask thee for a decision; say, 'God will give you a decision concerning remote kinship. ' If a man perish and have no child, but have a sister, let her have half of what he leaves; and he shall be her heir, if she have no son. But if there be two sisters, let them both have two thirds of what he leaves; and if there be brethren, both men and women, let the male have like the portion of two females. God makes this manifest to you lest ye err; for God all things doth know.

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    They ask you for a legal pronouncement; say, "Allah gives you a decision concerning remote kinship. " If a man dies and have no child, but have a sister, let her have half of what he leaves; and had she died, he would be her heir, if she have no son. But if there be two sisters, let them both have two thirds of what he leaves; and if there be brethren, both men and women, let the male have like the portion of two females. Allah makes this manifest to you lest you err; for Allah is Knower of all things.

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    They ask you for your pronouncement. Say, " Allah pronounces to you concerning the indirect heirs." In case a person perishes having no child, and he has a sister, she shall have half of what he has left, and he inherits (from) her in case she has no child (i.e., has the right to all the inheritance). (And) in case they are two (sisters), then they shall have two thirds of what he has left; and in case they are brothers, men and women, (i.e., has the right to all the inheritance) then the male shall have the same portion as that of two females. Allah makes (this) evident to you, that you should not err; and Allah is Ever-Knowing of everything.

  • George Sale

    They will consult thee for thy decision in certain cases; say unto them, God giveth you these determinations, concerning the more remote degrees of kindred. If a man die without issue, and have a sister; she shall have the half of what he shall leave: And he shall be heir to her, in case she have no issue. But if there be two sisters, they shall have between them two third parts of what he shall leave; and of there be several, both brothers and sisters, a male shall have as much as the portion of two females. God declareth unto you these precepts, lest ye err: And God knoweth all things.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    They ask you for a legal decision: Say: "Allah directs (thus) about those who leave no descendants or ascendants (i. e., nobody from later or early generations) as inheritor (of belongings). If it is a man who dies, leaving a sister but no child, she shall have half the inheritance: If (such a deceased was) a woman, who left no child, her brother takes her inheritance: If there are two sisters, they shall have two-thirds (between them): If there are brothers and sisters, (they share) the male having twice the share of the female. Like this does Allah make clear to you (His law), in case you make a mistake and Allah has knowledge of all things."

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    They ask you of your ruling (in the matter of inheritance of a kalâlah). Say, `Allâh gives you His ruling concerning kalâlah (- one who has neither parents left nor a child).' If a man dies (and) he has no child but leaves (only) a sister (behind), then she shall inherit half of what he leaves. Likewise he (- the brother who is kalâlah) shall inherit her (whole property) if she (- the sister) has no child (and dies). But if there be two sisters (or more) then they shall receive two third of what he (- brother who is kalâlah) leaves. And if they (- the survivors) be brethren, men and women, then for the male is the equal of the portion of two females. Allâh makes (His commandments) clear to you lest you should err. And Allâh knows all things well.

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    They ask you for a ruling. Say, ‘Allah gives you a ruling concerning the kalālah: If a man dies and he has no children , but has a sister, for her shall be a half of what he leaves, and he shall inherit from her if she has no children. If there be two sisters, then they shall receive two-thirds of what he leaves. But if there be brothers and sisters, then for the male shall be the like of the share of two females. Allah explains for you lest you should go astray, and Allah has knowledge of all things.’