“I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about the case of a man who leaves behind his mother and brother. He (the Imam) said, ‘O Shaykh, do you want the answer according to the book?’ He (the narrator) has said that I said, ‘Yes, I want it according to the book.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Ali (a.s.), would give the legacy to the nearest relative.’ I then asked, ‘So, the brother does not inherit?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘I just informed you that Ali (a.s.), would give the legacy to the nearest relative.’”