Tafsir of An-Nisa' 4:7-8

"For men is a share of what..."

"And the nearest relatives" They are those who inherit by virtue of kinship, to the exclusion of others.

"of what is little or much" This is a substitute (badal) for "what they left," with the governing agent (ʿāmil) repeated.

"a determined share" It is in the accusative case (naṣb) by way of specification (ikhtiṣāṣ), meaning: "I mean a determined, cut-out, obligatory share that they must possess, and no one may monopolize it." It is also permissible for it to be in the accusative as an emphatic verbal noun (maṣdar muʾakkid), similar to His saying: "An ordinance from Allah" (4:11), as if it were said: "A determined division."

It is narrated that Aws ibn Thābit al-Anṣārī left behind his wife, Umm Kajja, and three daughters. His cousins, Suwayd and ʿArfata (or Qatāda and ʿArfaja), withheld his inheritance from them. The people of the Pre-Islamic Era (Jāhiliyya) would not grant inheritance to women or children, saying: "None shall inherit except those who can thrust with spears, defend the territory, and seize the spoils." Umm Kajja came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) at the Mosque of al-Faḍīkh and complained to him. He said: "Return until I see what Allah ordains." Then this verse was revealed. He sent for the two cousins, saying: "Do not distribute anything of Aws’s wealth, for Allah has granted them a share." He did not specify it until He revealed: "Allah instructs you..." (4:11). He then gave Umm Kajja one-eighth, the daughters two-thirds, and the remainder to the cousins.

"And when there are present at the division" Meaning: the division of the estate.

"the near relatives" Those who do not inherit.

"then provide for them from it" The pronoun refers to what the parents and near relatives have left. This is a command of recommendation (nadb). Al-Ḥasan said: "The believers used to do this; when the heirs gathered, these [non-inheriting relatives] would be present, so they would give them a small portion of the goods." Allah encouraged them to do this as a matter of etiquette, not as a mandatory obligation. They said: "If it were mandatory, a limit and measure would have been set for it, as with other rights." It is narrated that ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Abī Bakr divided his father’s inheritance while ʿĀʾisha (may Allah be pleased with her) was still alive, and he did not leave anyone in the house without giving them something, reciting this verse. It is also said that it is obligatory, and it is said that it was abrogated by the verses of inheritance, like the bequest. Saʿīd ibn Jubayr said: "Some people say it is abrogated, but by Allah, it is not abrogated; rather, it is something people have become negligent about."

"And speak to them a kind word" Meaning: they should speak to them gently, saying, "Take this, may Allah bless you," and apologize to them, considering what they have given them as little—not much—and not acting as if they are doing them a favor.

Al-Ḥasan and al-Nakhaʿī said: "We reached people who were distributing [wealth] to relatives, the poor, and orphans from the currency," meaning silver and gold. When the silver and gold were divided and the division reached the lands, slaves, and the like, they would say to them a kind word, saying: "May you be blessed."