The Reason Why a Male’s Share is Twice the Share of a Female

“I once asked al-Rida’ (a.s.), ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, why is it that when a man dies his sons’ shares of the legacy are twice as much as the share of his daughters even though females are less capable and weaker?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is because Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has preferred men over women and because women become dependents of men.’”

“Once, al-Fahfakiy asked abu Muhammad (a.s.), ‘Why is it that the destitute and weak woman’s share of the legacy is half as much as the share of man?’ Abu Muhammad (a.s.), said, ‘It is because there is no Jihad on women; maintenance expenses and wergild to be paid by the relatives of the murderer, it is on men.’ I then said to myself that I was told about ibn abu al-‘Awja’s question to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about this issue and he had answered with this answer. Abu Muhammad (a.s.), turned to me and said, ‘Yes, this is the question of ibn abu al-‘Awja’ and the answer from us is one if the meaning of the question is the same. What applies to the last of us applies to the first of us. Our first and last in knowledge are the same, however, the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, and Amir al-Mu’minin have their excellence.’”

“Once ibn abu al-‘Awaja’ asked me, ‘Why is it that the destitute and weak woman’s share of the legacy is half as much as the share of man?’ He (the narrator) has said that certain persons of our people mentioned to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), who said, ‘It is because there is no Jihad on women and maintenance expenses and wergild to be paid by the relatives of the murderer; which is on men.