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232chapter fiveperiod? The verse refers to them by the term wa’l-aqrabÊn, whichconnotes six different groups:1. caregiver-father ( al-ab) and caregiver-mother ( al-umm) 14 ;2. ascendants—to whatever degree above;3. husband (if the deceased was a married woman) or wife (if thedeceased was a married man);4. children and grandchildren of the deceased, and any descendant—towhatever degree below;5. brothers and sisters;6. agnate uncles and aunts, and cognate uncles and aunts.Together with the natural parents, these are the groups of primarybeneficiaries to whom a testator may bequeath his wealth accordingto verse 180 of Sårat al-Baqara. However, the following verse extendsthis circle considerably:But if at the time of division other relatives, or orphans or [ al-mas§kÊn],are present, feed them out of the (property), and speak to them wordsof kindness and justice. ( Al-Nis§" 4:8)Verse 4:8 adds another group of potential addressees: ‘orphans or[the handicapped]’, 15 which are not considered by any verse of inheritancelaw. The verse does not specify whether one should bequeathmoney to orphans or people in need individually or collectively bygiving money to charitable bodies, such as orphanages, refugeecamps, shelter homes for asylum seekers, or red cross/red crescentorganisations.Another, fourth group is added in verse 4:9:Let those (disposing of an estate) have the same fear in their minds asthey would have for their own if they had left a helpless family [dhuriyyatan ·i#§f an ] behind: let them fear God, and speak words of appropriate(comfort). ( Al-Nis§" 4:9)14MS added a comment that a caregiver-mother is the main type of a nonbiologicalmother; other types are, for example, a surrogate mother or a wet nurse;caregiver-mothers are foster mothers who have either adopted their children orcared for them during their childhood (without formally adopting them). In this roleshe will inherit from her children, not the child’s biological mother.15See chapter 4: MS defines mas§kÊn not as poor but as handicapped people, i.e.,those whose bodily functions are paralyzed or ‘still’ (sakana).