Islamic inheritance (known as Mirath or Faraid) is one of the most detailed and precisely defined areas of Islamic law. Unlike many other legal systems where the deceased has full freedom over their estate, Islam prescribes specific shares for designated heirs — directly from the Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Understanding these rules is essential for every Muslim family to ensure that wealth is distributed justly and in accordance with divine guidance.
⚖️ Calculate Islamic inheritance shares instantly with our Islamic Inheritance Calculator — just enter the heirs and get the exact breakdown.
Islamic inheritance rules are primarily derived from Surah An-Nisa (Chapter 4), verses 11, 12, and 176. These verses form the backbone of the Faraid system and provide the exact fractional shares for most categories of heirs. The Prophet (peace be upon him) further clarified the rules through his Sunnah, particularly regarding residuary heirs (Asabah).
Before an estate can be divided among heirs, three obligations must be fulfilled in order:
After these three obligations, the remaining estate is distributed among the heirs according to the Quranic shares.
Islamic inheritance recognizes three types of heirs:
| Type | Arabic | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed-share heirs | Ashab al-Furud | Heirs with specified Quranic fractions (1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 2/3, 1/3, 1/6) |
| Residuary heirs | Asabah | Heirs who receive the remainder after fixed shares are distributed |
| Extended relatives | Dhawil-Arham | Distant relatives who inherit only when no primary heirs exist |
| Heir | Condition | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Husband | No children | 1/2 |
| Husband | With children | 1/4 |
| Wife | No children | 1/4 |
| Wife | With children | 1/8 |
| Father | With male descendants | 1/6 |
| Mother | With children or 2+ siblings | 1/6 |
| Mother | No children, 0-1 siblings | 1/3 |
| Daughter(s) | One daughter, no sons | 1/2 |
| Daughters | Two or more, no sons | 2/3 (shared) |
| Full sister(s) | One, no children/father | 1/2 |
| Full sisters | Two or more, no children/father | 2/3 (shared) |
When the deceased leaves both sons and daughters, they inherit as residuary heirs (Asabah), with the son receiving twice the share of the daughter. This is stated directly in the Quran (4:11). The reasoning, as explained by scholars, is that Islamic law places the financial burden of providing for the family (Nafaqah) on men — a son must use his share to support his wife, children, and potentially his parents, while a daughter's share is entirely her own.
Scenario: A man passes away leaving a wife, one son, and two daughters. His estate after debts and funeral costs is $240,000.
| Heir | Share | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Wife | 1/8 (because there are children) | $30,000 |
| Remainder for children | 7/8 | $210,000 |
| Son (2 shares out of 4) | 2/4 of $210,000 | $105,000 |
| Daughter 1 (1 share out of 4) | 1/4 of $210,000 | $52,500 |
| Daughter 2 (1 share out of 4) | 1/4 of $210,000 | $52,500 |
Every Muslim is encouraged to prepare a Wasiyyah (Islamic will) that specifies:
Important: The Wasiyyah cannot be used to give additional shares to existing heirs beyond what the Quran prescribes. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "There is no bequest for an heir." This ensures that the divine distribution is not manipulated.
Muslims living in non-Muslim majority countries (USA, UK, Canada, Europe, Australia) face a unique challenge: local laws may distribute the estate differently from Islamic rules. To ensure Islamic compliance:
⚖️ Our Islamic Inheritance Calculator computes the exact shares for all heirs based on Quranic rules. Simply enter the surviving family members and the estate value to get an instant, accurate breakdown.
Islamic inheritance (Mirath or Faraid) is the divinely prescribed system for distributing a deceased Muslim's estate among their heirs. The Quran specifies exact shares for various relatives, ensuring fair and just distribution according to Allah's wisdom.
Yes. A Muslim is encouraged to write a will (Wasiyyah) for up to one-third (1/3) of their estate. This third can be allocated to non-heirs, charity, or any purpose. The remaining two-thirds must be distributed according to the Quranic inheritance rules.
A wife receives 1/8 of the estate if the deceased had children, or 1/4 if there were no children. If there are multiple wives, they share the 1/8 or 1/4 equally among themselves.
In Islamic inheritance, a son receives twice the share of a daughter. This is because sons bear the financial responsibility of providing for their families (Nafaqah), while daughters have no such obligation.
If the deceased has no children, the estate is distributed among the surviving spouse, parents, and siblings according to specific Quranic shares. The exact distribution depends on which relatives survive.
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