Islamic Will Calculator
Calculate Islamic inheritance shares (faraid) for all heirs according to Quran and Sunnah. Enter values for instant results with step-by-step formulas.
Calculator
Adjust values & calculateInheritance Shares
Formula
Debts and funeral expenses are paid first, then bequests up to one-third of the remaining estate, then the distributable estate is allocated to heirs: spouse, parents receive fixed Quranic shares, and sons receive double the share of daughters from the residuary.
Last reviewed: December 2025
Worked Examples
Example 1: Estate with Wife, Sons and Daughters
Example 2: Estate with Debts and Bequest
Background & Theory
The Islamic Will Calculator applies the following established principles and formulas. Islamic financial and religious calculations operate within a framework that integrates theological principles with precise mathematical methodology. Zakat, one of the five pillars of Islam, requires payment of 2.5% of qualifying wealth held above the nisab threshold for a complete lunar year. The nisab is pegged to the value of 85 grams of gold or 595 grams of silver, whichever provides the lower threshold, and must be recalculated against current market prices. Qualifying wealth includes cash, savings, business inventory, and investment assets, but excludes primary residence, personal-use items, and tools of trade. Hijri calendar conversion is essential for determining Ramadan dates, Zakat anniversaries, and contract terms expressed in lunar months. The Hijri calendar contains 12 lunar months totalling approximately 354.37 days, making it roughly 11 days shorter than the Gregorian year. Converting between calendars requires accounting for the accumulated drift: since the Hijri epoch of 622 CE (the Prophet's migration from Mecca to Medina), the difference compounds annually. Qibla direction calculation employs spherical trigonometry to determine the great-circle bearing from any point on Earth toward the Kaaba in Mecca (coordinates 21.4225°N, 39.8262°E). The formula accounts for the curvature of the Earth, meaning the bearing from New York to Mecca is approximately northeast rather than the intuitive eastward direction seen on flat maps. Prayer times are determined by solar angles: Fajr begins when the sun is 15-18 degrees below the horizon before dawn; Dhuhr at solar noon; Asr when shadow length equals object height plus its shadow at noon; Maghrib at sunset; and Isha when twilight disappears. These calculations vary by latitude and season, requiring location-specific algorithms. Islamic finance prohibits riba (interest), requiring profit-sharing structures such as Mudarabah (capital provider and entrepreneur share profits at a pre-agreed ratio) and Musharakah (joint venture with proportional profit and loss sharing).
History
The history behind the Islamic Will Calculator traces back through the following developments. Islamic civilisation made foundational contributions to mathematics and astronomy that underpin many of the calculation methods still used today. Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi, working at the House of Wisdom in Baghdad in the 9th century, authored Al-Kitab al-mukhtasar fi hisab al-jabr wal-muqabala, the work from whose title the word algebra derives. His systematic approach to equation solving provided tools directly applicable to financial and calendar calculations. Al-Biruni in the 11th century developed sophisticated methods for calculating geographic coordinates and direction, including early formulations of what became the qibla calculation. The Hijri calendar was formally established by Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab in 638 CE, fixing the Prophet Muhammad's migration (Hijra) from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE as the epoch. This calendar standardised religious observances across the expanding Muslim world. Islamic inheritance law (Faraid) was codified from Quranic verses and Hadith during the early Islamic period, establishing precise fractional shares for defined classes of heirs. The complexity of multi-heir scenarios drove development of sophisticated fraction arithmetic among early Islamic jurists and mathematicians. The Ottoman Empire administered Zakat as a state function for centuries, integrating it with broader fiscal policy until the empire's dissolution after World War I. The 20th century saw Islamic finance principles largely dormant in formal banking until the resurgence of Islamic banking in Egypt (Mit Ghamr Savings Bank, 1963) and the Gulf states following the 1973 oil boom provided capital for institution-building. The Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI), established in Bahrain in 1991, and the Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB), established in Kuala Lumpur in 2002, created the standards infrastructure for modern Islamic finance. The global Islamic finance industry has grown to approximately three trillion US dollars in assets, spanning banking, takaful insurance, sukuk bonds, and Islamic funds across over 80 countries.
Frequently Asked Questions
Formula
Distributable Estate = Gross Estate - Debts - Bequests (max 1/3)
Debts and funeral expenses are paid first, then bequests up to one-third of the remaining estate, then the distributable estate is allocated to heirs: spouse, parents receive fixed Quranic shares, and sons receive double the share of daughters from the residuary.
Worked Examples
Example 1: Estate with Wife, Sons and Daughters
Problem: A man dies leaving an estate of $500,000, no debts, no bequests. Heirs: wife, mother, 2 sons, 1 daughter. Calculate each share.
Solution: Net estate: $500,000\nWife (with children): 1/8 = $62,500\nMother (with children): 1/6 = $83,333\nRemainder: $500,000 - $62,500 - $83,333 = $354,167\nSons + daughter parts: (2 x 2) + 1 = 5 parts\nPer part: $354,167 / 5 = $70,833\nEach son: $70,833 x 2 = $141,667\nDaughter: $70,833
Result: Wife: $62,500 | Mother: $83,333 | Each Son: $141,667 | Daughter: $70,833
Example 2: Estate with Debts and Bequest
Problem: A woman dies leaving $300,000 estate, $30,000 in debts, and a $50,000 bequest to charity. Heirs: husband, 1 son, 1 daughter, no parents.
Solution: Net estate: $300,000 - $30,000 = $270,000\nMax bequest (1/3): $270,000 / 3 = $90,000\nActual bequest: $50,000 (within limit)\nDistributable: $270,000 - $50,000 = $220,000\nHusband (with children): 1/4 = $55,000\nRemainder: $220,000 - $55,000 = $165,000\nSon + daughter parts: 2 + 1 = 3\nSon: $165,000 x 2/3 = $110,000\nDaughter: $165,000 x 1/3 = $55,000
Result: Husband: $55,000 | Son: $110,000 | Daughter: $55,000 | Charity bequest: $50,000
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Islamic inheritance law (faraid)?
Faraid is the Islamic system of inheritance distribution prescribed in the Quran, primarily in Surah An-Nisa (Chapter 4), verses 11, 12, and 176. It establishes specific shares for designated heirs based on their relationship to the deceased, ensuring that wealth is distributed fairly among family members according to divine guidance. The system recognizes two categories of heirs: those with fixed shares (ashab al-furud) such as spouses, parents, and daughters, and residuary heirs (asabah) such as sons who receive what remains after fixed shares are allocated. Islamic inheritance law is considered one of the most detailed and precisely defined areas of Islamic jurisprudence, and Muslim scholars have developed extensive literature over centuries to address complex inheritance scenarios.
What is the maximum bequest (wasiyyah) allowed in Islamic law?
Islamic law limits voluntary bequests to a maximum of one-third of the net estate after debts are paid. This limit is established by the well-known hadith of Saad ibn Abi Waqqas, who asked the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) if he could bequeath all his wealth, then two-thirds, and the Prophet declined both. When Saad asked about one-third, the Prophet replied that one-third is acceptable and even that is a lot. Furthermore, a bequest cannot be made in favor of an heir who already receives a prescribed share, as this would disturb the divinely ordained distribution. Any bequest exceeding one-third or made to an existing heir requires the unanimous consent of all other heirs after the death of the testator to be valid.
What is the concept of awl (proportional reduction) in Islamic inheritance?
Awl is an important jurisprudential concept that addresses situations where the total fixed shares of all heirs exceed the entire estate, meaning there is not enough to give everyone their full prescribed share. In such cases, all fixed shares are proportionally reduced so that each heir receives a fraction of their entitled share rather than some heirs being fully paid while others receive nothing. For example, if the total prescribed shares add up to seven-sixths of the estate (more than 100 percent), each heir receives six-sevenths of their original entitlement. This mechanism was first applied during the caliphate of Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) and has been accepted by the majority of scholars. The opposite scenario, where fixed shares total less than the estate leaving a residual, is handled through the concept of radd (return).
Is an Islamic will legally recognized in Western countries?
The legal status of Islamic wills in Western countries varies significantly depending on jurisdiction and how the will is structured. In most Western legal systems, a properly executed will that meets formal requirements such as witness signatures and testator capacity will be recognized and enforced by courts, even if it follows Islamic distribution principles. However, some jurisdictions have forced heirship laws or community property rules that may override certain provisions. In the United States and United Kingdom, courts generally respect testamentary freedom, meaning a properly drafted Islamic will can direct estate distribution according to faraid principles. It is strongly recommended to work with a lawyer experienced in both Islamic inheritance law and local estate law to ensure the will is legally valid, properly witnessed, and structured to achieve the intended distribution while complying with local regulations.
Is my data stored or sent to a server?
No. All calculations run entirely in your browser using JavaScript. No data you enter is ever transmitted to any server or stored anywhere. Your inputs remain completely private.
Can I use Islamic Will Calculator on a mobile device?
Yes. All calculators on NovaCalculator are fully responsive and work on smartphones, tablets, and desktops. The layout adapts automatically to your screen size.
References
Reviewed by Daniel Agrici, Founder & Lead Developer · Editorial policy