Chapter on the Inheritance of the Followers of Different Religions

'Islam elevates and does not degrade'?"

Hadith.5717 - With the statement of the Prophet (sw), peace and blessings be upon him and his family: "Islam increases and does not decrease."

Hadith.5718 - With the statement of the Prophet (sw), peace and blessings be upon him and his family: "There is no harm and no reciprocation of harm in Islam."

Hadith.5719 - With the statement of the Him (as), peace be upon him and his family: "Islam prevails and is not prevailed over."

"A Jewish man has died and left behind a Muslim brother." Muadh said: "I heard the Messenger of Allah (swt) (peace be upon him and his family) say: 'Islam increases and does not diminish.'" Therefore, he allowed the Muslim to inherit from his Jewish brother.

"Indeed, Allah (swt), the Mighty and Majestic, has only increased us in honor through Islam. Therefore, we inherit from them, but they do not inherit from us."

I asked Imam (as) whether a Muslim can inherit from a polytheist. Imam (as) replied: "Yes, but a polytheist does not inherit from a Muslim."

"People of two different religions do not inherit from one another. We inherit from them, but they do not inherit from us. Indeed, Allah (swt), the Mighty and Majestic, has only increased us in honor through Islam."

"A Muslim prevents a disbeliever from inheriting and inherits from him, but a disbeliever neither prevents a believer from inheriting nor does he inherit from him."

I heard Abu Abdullah (as) say: "A Muslim man inherits from his dhimmi (non-Muslim under Islamic protection) wife, but she does not inherit from him."

"A disbeliever does not inherit from a Muslim, but a Muslim may inherit from a disbeliever - unless the Muslim has made a will (wasiyyah) bequeathing something to the disbeliever."

I heard Abu Jafar Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as) say: "A Jew and a Christian do not inherit from Muslims, but Muslims inherit from Jews and Christians."

I asked Abu Jafar Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as) about a Muslim man who died and had a Christian mother, along with a Muslim wife and Muslim children. Imam (as) said: "If his mother accepts Islam before the inheritance is divided, she is given one-sixth." I asked: "What if he has no wife, no children, and no heir entitled to a share in the Book from among the Muslims, and his mother is Christian, and his relatives are Christians who would have a share in the Book if they were Muslim - who inherits his wealth?" Imam (as) said: "If his mother embraces Islam, then all of his inheritance belongs to her. But if his mother does not embrace Islam and some of his relatives who have a rightful share in the Book accept Islam, the inheritance goes to them. If none of his relatives become Muslim, then his inheritance belongs to the Imam."

I asked Imam (as) about a Christian man who died, leaving behind a Muslim nephew (son of his brother) and a Muslim niece (daughter of his sister), while his own children and wife were Christians. Imam (as) said: "I see that the Muslim nephew should be given two-thirds of what he left behind, and the Muslim niece should be given one-third of what he left behind, provided he does not have young children. However, if he has young children, then the two heirs must provide for the children from what they inherited from their father until the children reach maturity." It was asked: "How should they provide for the children?" Imam (as) replied: "The heir of the two-thirds share must cover two-thirds of the expenses, and the heir of the one-third share must cover one-third of the expenses. Once the children mature, the heirs are no longer responsible for their expenses." It was then asked: "What if his children embrace Islam while they are still young?" Imam (as) said: "In that case, what their father left behind should be handed over to the Imam until they reach maturity. If they remain steadfast in Islam upon reaching maturity, the Imam will give them their inheritance. But if they do not remain in Islam upon maturity, the Imam will return the inheritance to the Muslim nephew and niece, giving the nephew two-thirds of what was left and the niece one-third."

I asked Abu Abdullah (as) about a Christian man who accepted Islam and then reverted to Christianity and died. Imam (as) said: "His inheritance goes to his Christian children." I then asked about a Muslim who converted to Christianity and then died. Imam (as) said: "His inheritance goes to his Muslim children."