The Second View

Regarding the abrogated [verse]:

4865 - Usaid ibn 'Asim narrated to us, Sa'id ibn 'Amir reported to us, from Hammam, Qatadah reported to us, from Sa'id ibn al-Musayyib that he said: "It is abrogated. It was before the [revelation of the] laws of inheritance. Whatever property a man left behind, the orphan, the poor, the needy, and those of kinship were given [a portion] from it when they were present at the division. Then, it was abrogated after that; the laws of inheritance abrogated it, and Allah the Exalted attached the right of every one who has a right to his right, and the bequest became [a matter] of his property, which he bequeaths to his relatives wherever he wishes."

His saying, the Exalted: "And speak to them a fair word"

[The first view]

4866 - My father narrated to us, 'Abd Allah ibn Raja' reported to us, Isra'il informed us, from Salim, from Sa'id ibn Jubayr regarding His saying: "And speak to them a fair word," he said: "A man used to spend on his neighbor and his relatives, and when he died, they would attend [the division]. His guardian would say: 'We do not possess anything of it.' So Allah commanded them to speak a fair word: 'May Allah provide for you,' meaning: 'May Allah help you,' and they would be given a small portion of the produce."

The second view:

4867 - Abu Zur'ah narrated to us, Yahya ibn 'Abd Allah ibn Bukayr reported to us, 'Abd Allah ibn Lahi'ah narrated to me, 'Ata' ibn Dinar narrated to me, from Sa'id ibn Jubayr: "And speak to them a fair word," he says a good promise. He says: If the heirs are young, let the guardians of those heirs say to those who do not inherit from the relatives of the deceased, the orphans, and the needy: 'These heirs are young; when they reach the age of reason, we will command them to acknowledge your right to it, by the command of their Lord. If he dies before that and I inherit from them, I will give you your right.' So this is the fair word. Abu Muhammad said: A similar [view] was narrated from Muqatil ibn Hayyan.

The third view:

4868 - My father narrated to us, Sahl ibn 'Uthman reported to us, Ibn al-Mubarak reported to us, from Isma'il al-Makki, from Yazid ibn al-Walid, from Ibrahim, he said: "If they were adults, a portion was given to them. And if they were young, their guardians would say: 'We have no authority in the matter, and if we did, we would have given it to them.'" He said: "So this is the fair word."

His saying, the Exalted: "And let those [executors] fear [injustice] if they were to leave behind..."

4869 - My father narrated to us, Abu Salih reported to us, Mu'awiyah ibn Salih narrated to me, from 'Ali ibn Abi Talhah, from Ibn 'Abbas regarding His saying: "And let those fear who, if they had left behind weak offspring, would have been concerned for them."