This story is the story of hundreds, if not thousands of women…. a lot of women, end up with nothing because of the laws inheritance… I feel that Islam is a holistic system… it should either be applied as a whole or not at all… but people can’t pick and choose what is god for them or their own self interets

My great uncle was not an extremely wealthy man. He had no children, and his wife had no brothers or male relatives. Together, they worked at Jordanian public schools their whole lives, and then got pension money after they retired. My great aunt’s pension money was put in the same bank account as his pension money (not exactly the smartest thing to do). When he died, My grandmother (who had sons of her own to provide for her) got %50 of the money in his bank account. The remainder of the money was split between all 6 sons of my other great uncle who had passed away some years back (all 6 sons were wealthy themselves so they gave the money to their sisters). That left my great uncle’s wife with only 25% of whatever was in the bank (and it really wasn’t much) and the moakhar was a measly 700 dinars. In Jordan, that really won’t get you anywhere. Nobody really liked her, so nobody gave up their own share of the inheritance for her.

If Islam was properly followed by everyone, then it would all be good and fine. I find it amusing that most people jump to defend aspects of Islam as long as it benefits them personally. The inheritance scheme would work fine in theory (for example if my great uncle’s nephews had helped support their widowed aunt, which is what they should have done if they had cared about Islam at all). The fact is, Islam is not properly followed. So why shouldn’t the laws change? If Islam law was properly followed then every Muslim man should fight till the death in ANY Muslim country that’s under the attack of a non-Muslim country, isn’t that what Jihad is about? Muslim men are more than happy to quote the Quran about the laws of inheritance, polygamy, etc, but I don’t see them going to Afghanistan, Iraq or Palestine for Jihad.

Just a point re inheritance, since the uncles have a financial responsibility towards the family now, if they shirked on it cant they be taken to court?

Madas, I’m really sorry for their loss, but why would anyone argue with the laws of inheritance? Unless the wife had actually contributed in this money, why are we applying western thought to a completely alien culture?

I see your objection, but I just don’t find it that unjust towards women.

I think each person has their objections to what does not work for them. I mean these girls’ objection is on the inheritence… because that law affected them negatively… yours on the dowery because it affected you negatively… and so on… the point is I have a general rule to myself… every case is different, and there is no law in the world that works for everyone…

I feel sorry for the widow and daughters of your father’s friend. Without any money, the daughters will probably not have a chance to go to college. I suppose they will have to marry as soon as possible, or go to work. I can’t believe the brothers of the dead man can come and take his estate! Does Jordan have no laws allowing a person to decide who should receive his or her estate?

When I was six years old, I made zoo collages for my 2nd grade teacher. I really loved her. I would cut out all sorts of animals from colored construction paper and paste them onto another paper. I would cut out trees too. Glad you are having so much fun with your nephew.

Fact is, women do have plenty of rights and there’s nothing wrong with that. Then why so many women complain that they’re such victims!? Women want every right, and want more rights on top of them. They want the rights from 3 or 4 different social systems. Which doesn’t really work.

I understand that these are sensitive issues for many women, but allow me to give you one piece of advice, don’t listen to people victimising themselves and bashing the system. Many don’t even know what the legal position of any issue is. Just like the many TV Shows that how the poor mother begging her ex husband to keep her children, when it’s the other way around, by the law and shariah … We just grew up thinking oh .. poor victims. Even my friend who was a Lady lawyer didn’t know many of these things because of the amount of wrong ideas dumped in our head by the TV, media and old burned Arabic movies!

(Please forgive me if I took too much space, and also forgive my intrusion)