Quote:
{4:11} God instructs you concerning your children: for the male, what is equal to the share of two females. But if there are [only] daughters, two or more, for them is two thirds of one's estate. And if there is only one, for her is half. And for one's parents, to each one of them is a sixth of his estate if he left children. But if he had no children and the parents [alone] inherit from him, then for his mother is one third. And if he had brothers [or sisters], for his mother is a sixth, after any bequest he [may have] made or debt. Your parents or your children - you know not which of them are nearest to you in benefit. [These shares are] an obligation [imposed] by God. Indeed, God is ever Knowing and Wise.
An explanatory note is in order here to point out that this verse is talking about inheritance law. I suggest that the starting sentence be, "[Regarding inheritance,] God instructs you ..."
Instead of an interjection in "if he had brothers [or sisters]," it is less verbose, and still correct translation to say, "if he had siblings."
In our attempt to translate closer to the Arabic, I suggest that "of one's estate" be replaced with "of what he left behind (his estate)".
من بعد وصية يوصي بها actually means "after a will in which he names a bequest." That's more accurate than "after any bequest he [may have] made."
So, I suggest,
{4:11} [Regarding inheritance,] God commends you concerning your children: for the male as the lot of the two females. But if they were [only] women, over two, then for them is two thirds of what he (the testator) left. And if there was [only] one [daughter], then for her is the half. And for the two parents, to each one of them is the sixth of what he left, if he had a [surviving] child. But if he did not have a [surviving] child and his two parents inherited from him, then for his mother is the third. And if he had [surviving] siblings, then for his mother is the sixth, after any bequest he bequeathes or debt. Your parents and your children - you do not quite know which of them are nearest to you in benefit. [These shares are] a mandate from God. Verily, God has ever been All-Knowing and Wise.Quote:
{4:12} And for you is half of what your wives leave if they have no child. But if they have a child, for you is one fourth of what they leave, after any bequest they [may have] made or debt. And for the wives is one fourth if you leave no child. But if you leave a child, then for them is an eighth of what you leave, after any bequest you [may have] made or debt. And if a man or woman leaves neither ascendants nor descendants but has a brother or a sister, then for each one of them is a sixth. But if they are more than two, they share a third, after any bequest which was made or debt, as long as there is no detriment [caused]. [This is] an ordinance from God, and God is Knowing and Forbearing.
See comment above regarding the translation "after a bequest they [may have] made." Also notice that the last such occurrence of that phrase is structured differently, namely, using the passive tense. I therefore suggest for that last occurrence to be translated as "after a will in which a bequest is made."
غير مضار doesn't quite mean "as long as there is no detriment [caused]." Rather it means "without causing harm." The context makes it clear that the reference here is the division of the estate between surviving siblings.
So, I suggest,
{4:12} And for you is half of what your wives left if they did not have a [surviving] child. But if they had a [surviving] child, then for you is one fourth of what they left, after any bequest they bequeath or debt. And for them (surviving wives) is one fourth of what you left, if you had a [surviving] child. But if you did not have a [surviving] child, then for them is one eighth of what you left, after any bequest you bequeathed or debt. And if a man is being inherited quasigly (no surviving children, parents nor spouses), or a woman, but has a brother or a sister, then for each one of them is the sixth. But if they are more than two, then they are partners in one third, after any bequest bequeathed or debt, without harming. [This is] a commendation from God, and God is All-Knowing, Forbearing.
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