Islamic Inheritance Calculator
Calculate Islamic inheritance shares (Faraid) based on Quran and Sunnah. Determine each heir's share according to Islamic law for spouse, children,
Islamic Inheritance Calculator
Calculator
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Formula: Each heir receives their Quranic share (1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 2/3, 1/3, 1/6), with residual going to Asabah heirs
Worked example — Wife: $12,500 | Son: $58,333 | Daughter: $29,167
Formula
Each heir receives their Quranic share (1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 2/3, 1/3, 1/6), with residual going to Asabah heirs
Islamic inheritance follows a priority-based system. First, fixed-share heirs (ashab al-furud) receive their Quranic portions. Then, residual heirs (asabah) — primarily sons, then father — receive the remainder. If shares exceed the estate, proportional reduction (Awl) is applied. Sons receive twice the share of daughters when inheriting together as residual heirs.
Worked Examples
Example 1: Deceased Male with Wife, Son, and Daughter
Problem:A man passes away leaving an estate of $100,000. His heirs are his wife, 1 son, and 1 daughter. Calculate each heir's share.
Solution:Wife's share = 1/8 (has children) = $12,500 Remainder = $100,000 - $12,500 = $87,500 Son gets 2 parts, daughter gets 1 part = 3 total parts Son = $87,500 × 2/3 = $58,333.33 Daughter = $87,500 × 1/3 = $29,166.67
Result:Wife: $12,500 | Son: $58,333 | Daughter: $29,167
Example 2: Deceased Female with Husband, Mother, and Father
Problem:A woman passes away with $200,000. Her heirs are her husband, mother, and father. No children.
Solution:Husband's share = 1/2 (no children) = $100,000 Mother's share = 1/3 (no children, no multiple siblings) = $66,666.67 Father's share = Residual = $200,000 - $100,000 - $66,666.67 = $33,333.33
Result:Husband: $100,000 | Mother: $66,667 | Father: $33,333
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Islamic inheritance system (Faraid)?
Faraid is the Islamic law of inheritance derived primarily from the Quran (Surah An-Nisa, verses 11-12 and 176) and the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). It prescribes specific shares for designated heirs based on their relationship to the deceased. The system is mandatory and cannot be altered by a will for the designated heirs, though up to one-third of the estate can be bequeathed to non-heirs through a wasiyyah (bequest). Faraid aims to distribute wealth across the family rather than concentrating it, ensuring that close relatives — including women — receive their rightful shares. The system considers the closeness of relationship, the generation of the heir, and financial responsibilities.
What are the fixed shares prescribed in the Quran?
The Quran prescribes six fixed shares (furud): one-half (1/2), one-quarter (1/4), one-eighth (1/8), two-thirds (2/3), one-third (1/3), and one-sixth (1/6). A husband receives 1/2 if no children or 1/4 if there are children. A wife receives 1/4 if no children or 1/8 if there are children. A single daughter gets 1/2 and two or more daughters share 2/3. The mother gets 1/6 if there are children or multiple siblings, otherwise 1/3. The father gets 1/6 when there are male descendants. These shares form the foundation of the distribution, with any remainder going to residual heirs (asabah), typically sons or the father. The mathematical precision of these allocations is considered one of the miracles of Islamic legislation.
Why do sons receive double the share of daughters?
In Islamic law, a son receives twice the share of a daughter, which is often understood in the context of the broader Islamic financial framework. Under Islamic law, a man bears financial obligations that a woman does not: he must provide mahr (dowry) to his wife, he is solely responsible for the financial maintenance of his wife and children, and he must support his parents if they are in need. A woman, on the other hand, is not obligated to spend her wealth on the household — any money she earns or inherits is entirely hers to keep. When these financial responsibilities are considered together, the net financial position may actually favor women. This ruling applies specifically to sons and daughters inheriting from the same parent; other relatives have different share allocations.
What happens when the total shares exceed 100% of the estate (Awl)?
When the prescribed shares add up to more than the total estate, a process called Awl (proportional reduction) is applied. This was first implemented by Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab when a case arose where the shares totaled more than the estate. In Awl, the denominator of the common fraction is increased to accommodate all shares, effectively reducing each heir's portion proportionally while maintaining relative ratios. For example, if shares total 13/12 of the estate, each share is divided by 13 instead of 12, reducing every share proportionally. This ensures all heirs receive some portion of their prescribed share and no single heir is completely excluded from their Quranic entitlement.
Can a Muslim write a will that overrides Faraid shares?
A Muslim can write a will (wasiyyah), but it is subject to important restrictions under Islamic law. A person may bequeath up to one-third of their estate to individuals or causes that are not among the prescribed Faraid heirs. The will cannot be used to give additional shares to existing heirs beyond what Faraid prescribes, unless the other heirs unanimously consent after the deceased's death. The remaining two-thirds (or more) of the estate must be distributed according to Faraid. Any debts of the deceased must be settled first, followed by funeral expenses, then the wasiyyah, and finally the Faraid distribution. This system ensures that while individuals have some testamentary freedom, close family members are always protected from disinheritance.
Who are the asabah, and in what order do they take the residue?
Asabah are residual heirs who take whatever remains after the fixed Quranic shares are paid, and they are ranked by proximity to the deceased. Sons come first, then sons' sons however far down, then the father, then the grandfather, then full brothers, then paternal half-brothers, then their sons, then paternal uncles. A nearer class completely excludes a more distant one, so the presence of a single son leaves nothing for brothers or uncles. Daughters and sisters usually become residual heirs only when a corresponding male relative makes them so, sharing on the two-to-one basis; a full or paternal sister is the exception, taking the residue alongside a surviving daughter.
What is hajb, and how can one relative block another from inheriting?
Hajb is exclusion, and it comes in two forms. Total exclusion (hajb hirman) removes an heir entirely: a son excludes the deceased's brothers and sisters, and a father excludes the grandfather. Partial exclusion (hajb nuqsan) reduces a share without removing it: a mother takes one-third when there are no children and no group of siblings, but drops to one-sixth once a child or two or more siblings exist, and a wife falls from one-quarter to one-eighth once there are children. Identifying every surviving relative first is therefore essential, since a person who inherits nothing can still change what others receive.
What is Radd, and what happens when the fixed shares total less than the whole estate?
Radd is the mirror image of Awl. If the Quranic shares add up to less than one and there is no asabah to absorb the remainder — say a mother and one daughter, taking one-sixth and one-half — the surplus is returned to the fixed-share heirs in proportion to their existing entitlements rather than left undistributed or given to the state. The majority position excludes the surviving husband or wife from this return, since the spousal bond is by marriage rather than blood, so the residue goes to the blood relatives who already hold a prescribed share.
Why does a widow receive a different share from a widower?
The spousal shares are fixed and asymmetric: a husband takes one-half of his wife's estate when she leaves no children and one-quarter when she does, while a wife takes one-quarter when there are no children and one-eighth when there are. Each is halved by the presence of descendants, because children then enter as heirs in their own right. Where a man leaves more than one widow, they do not each receive the fraction — the single one-quarter or one-eighth share is divided equally among them.
How are siblings treated, and what does kalalah mean?
Kalalah describes an estate where the deceased left neither a surviving parent in the ascending line nor descendants, which is the principal situation in which siblings inherit. Maternal half-siblings are treated under Quran 4:12: one alone takes one-sixth, and two or more share one-third equally, with no distinction between brothers and sisters. Full and paternal siblings fall under 4:176: a lone sister takes one-half, two or more sisters share two-thirds, and where brothers are present they inherit as residual heirs on the two-to-one ratio.
References
Reviewed for accuracy by Daniel Agrici, Founder & Lead Developer · Editorial policy
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