فلسفہ احکام میراث

This research article explores the rationale behind Islamic injunctions regarding inheritance. Unlike other Islamic injunctions, which are briefly enunciated in the Quran but elaborated in Sunnah, inheritance has been detailed in considerable length in the Quranic text itself. This coupled with numerous Prophetic traditions underpins the unique importance Islam accords to the question of inheritance. However, despite its exceptional importance, the subject of Islamic law of inheritance remains mostly a neglected one, even among the students of Islamic seminaries and Ulema. Resultantly, Islam’s brilliant system of inheritance is often not implemented by the adherents of Islam, much to the miseries and hardships of the legal heirs, especially the children and women. Thus these marginalized segments of society are deprived of their rights today just as they were treated before the advent of Islam. This research brings home the fact that the divinely ordained Islamic injunctions of inheritance are based on sound rationale and justification in the best interest of humanity, and that the believers must adhere to these injunctions that are based on three key principles: proximity in relationship, need, and distribution of wealth. The paper explains in great length the types of relatives and legal heirs, the principles of distribution among them, the justification for such shares, and the limits imposed by Quran and Sunnah with regard to the right of the deceased, the heirs, relatives and the state. It also discusses some of the contentious issues in contemporary debate on Islam: an orphan grandson’s title to inheritance, and the philosophy behind 2: 1 inheritance distribution formula between son and daughter. In doing so, the author has not only relied on the main sources of Islamic jurisprudence viz. Quran and Sunnah, in addition to classical and modern Islamic scholarship but also sound argumentation and logical exposition.

Influence of Nickel Stress on Growth, Morpho- Physiological and Anatomical Attributes of Sunflower Helianthus Annuus L.

The phytotoxic effects of Ni-stress on seed germination, growth, physiological and anatomical attributes were appraised in this study. The available sunflower germplasm was exposed to varying levels of Ni (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 mg L -1 ). The lowest level of nickel (10 mg L -1 ) showed some improvement in seed germination and reduced the time to achieve 50% germination; it was found to be associated with improvement in Mg contents, activity of hydrolytic enzymes and concentration of reducing and non- reducing sugars, and free amino acid over time. However, higher levels of nickel had a significant inhibitory effect on seed germination that was directly correlated with reduction in K and activity of hydrolytic enzymes leading to alterations in concentration of crucial bio-molecules involved in control of seed germination. Based on the data generated a Ni-tolerant (Hysun-33) and a -sensitive (SF-187) hybrids were selected for further studies. In vegetative stage experiments, seeds of two selected sunflower hybrids were exposed to different levels of Ni (0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 mg L -1 ). Although low levels of Ni had a non- significant effects, high Ni-levels significantly reduced vegetative growth and yield has result of reduction in photosynthetic rate (A), stomatal conductance (g s ), water use efficiency (WUE) and Ci/Ca ratio. However, transpiration rate (E) increased with increase in external nickel. Leaf water and turgor potentials, and relative water contents (RWC) decreased while leaf turgor potential and membrane permeability (electrolyte leakage) increased in both sunflower hybrids. The concentration of soluble proteins increased at lower level of Ni application (10 and 20 mg L -1 ) but decreased with further increase in concentration of external Ni in all harvest intervals. However, the reverse was true for the concentration of free amino acids and soluble sugars. Proline concentration increased consistently with increasing concentration of external Ni. The concentration of nutrients such as Ca, N, P, K, Cu, Zn, Mg, Mn and Fe generally decreased in root, stem, leaves as well as achenes except for achene P and Mg which were not much affected under Ni-stress. The changes in all growth, biochemical, and physiological parameters appeared to be highly correlated with build-up of high Ni levels in root, stem and leaves of both sunflower hybrids over time. The anatomical features of root, stem and leaves were also significantly altered under Ni stress. Root exodermal thickness increased at the lowest level of Ni application (10 mg L - 1 ) but decreased consistently with further increase in Ni concentration. In contrast, root exodermal cell area, increased consistently with increase in external Ni concentration. Shoot and leaf exodermal and second layer thickness and area also increased consistently with increase in external Ni levels. Although, root, stem and leaf cortical, vascular region, metaxylem and phloem thickness and area were not affected at the lowest level (10 mg L - 1 ) of Ni, it decreased consistently with increase in external Ni as well as plant maturity. The reverse was true for leaf adaxial and abaxial stomatal density. In comparison, their thickness decreased during early stages but increased with increasing plant maturity. Leaf abaxial epidermal thickness and area, and leaf lamina thickness increased but spongy mesophyll thickness and area decreased with increase in external Ni as well as time. On the basis of data presented in this study, Hysun-33 was found to be more tolerant as compared to that of SF-187.