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230chapter fivewealth, and each bequest will differ considerably from one to thenext since objective reality is as complex as the human relationshipswe establish during our lifetimes.Inheritance laws, in contrast, are meant to achieve a more balanced,symmetric distribution of money and property. Each share iscalculated according to the relationship of the heir to the deceased(father, mother, child, husband, wife, brother, sister, and such). Whileimbalance characterises inheritance through bequests, balanced distributionis a characteristic of general inheritance laws. Balance orimbalance, symmetry or asymmetry—this polarity or duality expressesthe dialectical relationship between bequests and inheritance laws.Imbalance reflects the diversity, curvature, and plurality of humanrelationships in human society, while balance reflects Allah’s will(and His order of straightness). But since unbalanced distribution ofwealth mirrors the unbalanced relationships of our daily lives muchbetter, the Book gives bequest rules a more prominent place thaninheritance laws. We hear:It is prescribed, when death approaches any of you, if he leave anygoods that he make a bequest [ al-waßiyya] to parents and next of kin[li’l-w§lidain wa’l-aqrabÊn], according to reasonable usage—this is duefrom the God-fearing. ( Al-Baqara 2:180)This verse starts with the same formula (‘it is prescribed’) that Allah,only three verses further down of Sårat Al-Baqara, uses in a similarlyauthoritative way to command the duty of prayer and fasting:O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribedto those before you, that you may (learn) self-restraint. ( Al-Baqara2:183)When you pass (congregational) prayers, celebrate God’s praises, standing,sitting down, or lying down on your sides; but when you are freefrom danger, set up regular prayers: for such prayers are enjoined onbelievers at stated times. ( Al-Nis§" 4:103)There is the same prescriptive tone in His injunction to fast and prayas in His injunction to make a bequest. The only difference is thatthe command to fast and pray is only addressed to the Muslim-Believers (mu"minån), that is, to the followers of MuÈammad (ß),whereas bequests are the duty of ‘God-fearing’ Muslim-Assenters allover the world.The above verse of bequest also lists the potential beneficiaries ofa testator’s will. It uses the Arabic term li’l-w§lidain wa’l-aqrabÊn which,