The Reason for the Revelation of the First Inheritance Verse

When Sa'd b. Rabii was martyred in the Battle of Uhud (3 AH/625 CE), he left behind a pregnant wife and two daughters. According to the pre-Islamic tradition, inheritance was only left to men who could fight; women and daughters could not inherit. Sa'd's brother, adhering to this tradition, took all of Sa'd's possessions. His wife informed the Prophet Muhammad and said, "O Messenger of Allah! Sa'd was martyred in the way of Allah. His uncles took all the property without leaving anything for the daughters." Following this appeal, the 11th verse of Surah An-Nisa, which regulates inheritance shares, was revealed. The Prophet Muhammad sent a message to Sa'd's brother: "Give two-thirds of the inheritance to the daughters and one-eighth to their mothers; the remainder is yours." This event provides a concrete historical basis for the emergence of Islamic inheritance law. The understanding that excluded women and children from inheritance during the pre-Islamic period was fundamentally changed by this verse; daughters were granted inheritance rights. [Source: Abu Dawood, Faraid 2; Tirmidhi, Faraid 2; TDV Islamic Encyclopedia, "Inheritance" article, islamansiklopedisi.org.tr/miras]