QM Forum
The Quran => Islamic Duties => Topic started by: Reader Questions on December 21, 2021, 09:00:49 PM
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Received by Joseph Islam on Facebook
Brother Joseph, some people on an ex-Muslim group have suggested that the Quran has a mathematical error regarding inheritance. And a woman has posted this image. What is the solution to this? It would be appreciated if you can respond. I don't want to go through answers by laymen on Quora. Instead I want you as a qualified person to respond please. It's personally affecting me as well. I believe the Quran to be perfect and I don't want to involve any secondary sources so how to solve this issue using the Quran alone?
(http://quransmessage.com/files/Inheritance-alleged-error.jpg)
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Dear [Name Removed]
As-salamu alaykum
In general, I don't provide answers to questions on Facebook but I'd like to kindly invite you to post questions/follow up queries on the QM Forum below:
http://quransmessage.com/forum/forum.htm
However, please don't be alarmed. The Quran is perfect but it is only the imperfect assumptions/axioms that humans are prone to make/suggest which create the interpretive inconsistencies.
What I'd respectfully suggest is a re-read of all the inheritance verses with particular emphasis on a particular point. Please kindly note that the Quran's inheritance shares are only to be enacted if there is not a primary will/legacy or in conjunction with it once a primary will/legacy has been satisfied. Many Muslims and clerics appear to miss this point and some even appear to infer some sort of abrogation without basis.
(http://quransmessage.com/files/Inheritance-remainder.jpg)
If we then take the Quran at its word, the allocation of the shares only come into play after the first will/legacy is satisfied and then the portions are assigned.
The other incorrect assumption is that the total should = 100% based simply on % allocations without any consideration that the Quran is referring to 'remainders'.
Please kindly allow me to explain with an example:
If I requested, please can you ensure that half of your sweets are given to your father and with the remaining, please ensure that 2/3 are shared with your sisters, all that implies is that you need to create 3 parts from your 50% and share 2 parts of it with your sisters.
This does not mean 50% + 66.7% but rather:
50% + (66.7% of the 50% remaining)
This will mean you still have 1/3 of the sweets left from the 50% to pass to whoever you desire (or for the estate to decide in case of an Inheritance execution). In other words, out of the 50% remaining, your sisters are not allowed to take the entire remainder, but are only entitled to 2/3rds of the remaining 50%.
Please kindly see my article [1] on inheritance below:
I hope this helps, God willing.
Regards,
Joseph
REFERENCE
[1] INHERITANCE LAWS IN THE QURAN
http://quransmessage.com/articles/inheritance%20FM3.htm