The ruling on 'Awal' (Reduction of shares) in inheritance distribution when required shares exceed the total estate.

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When the fixed shares for the heirs exceed the total estate—such as in the case where the husband receives one-half, the full sister one-half (or her fixed share), plus shares for uterine siblings, the mother, and paternal sisters—the estate must be reduced proportionally, a process called 'Awal'. The estate is calculated based on the smallest common denominator (here, six) which then increases (to ten in the specific example), causing a reduction in all assigned shares proportionally, similar to the distribution of debts of a bankrupt person. This ruling is upheld by the majority of Companions and subsequent scholars including Malik, al-Thawri, al-Shafi'i, and Ishaq.