Online Islamic Inheritance Calculator

Inheritance in Islam, known as Mirath or Ilm al-Faraid, is the system prescribed in the Quran (Surah An-Nisa 4:11, 4:12 and 4:176) for passing a person's wealth to their family after death. The fixed shares of spouses, parents, children and siblings are set by Allah, and only what remains after funeral expenses, debts and any valid bequest (wasiyyah) is divided among the heirs.

To divide inheritance in Islam, follow these steps in order:

1. Pay funeral and burial costs.
2. Settle all debts, including any unpaid dowry (mahr).
3. Carry out a valid bequest (wasiyyah) of up to one-third of the remaining estate, not in favour of an existing heir unless the other heirs consent.
4. Identify which relatives are alive and eligible.
5. Give the fixed shares to the Quranic sharers (Ashab al-Furud).
6. Give the remainder to the residuary heirs (Asaba).
7. If the shares exceed or fall short of the whole estate, apply Awl or Radd.

The calculator on this page performs steps 4 to 7 automatically.

Islamic inheritance works in three layers. First, Quranic sharers receive fixed fractions such as 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 2/3, 1/3 or 1/6. Second, residuary heirs (Asaba) take whatever remains. Third, distant kindred (Dhawil al-Arham) inherit only if no sharer or residuary survives.

Closer relatives block more distant ones, and where a son and daughter inherit together as residuaries, the son receives twice the daughter's share. An heir who intentionally caused the death, or who differs in religion from the deceased, does not inherit.

There are two situations:

• During your lifetime: a gift (hibah) is valid once the recipient takes possession of it, and parents are encouraged to treat their children fairly. A gift made during a terminal illness is treated like a bequest and is limited to one-third of the estate.
• After death: each heir's share belongs to them by right, and once they have received it they may gift or donate it freely.

Waiving or gifting a share must be voluntary, made by an adult of sound mind, and never under pressure. For large or complex estates, consult a qualified scholar.

A widower (surviving husband) receives one-half (50%) of his wife's estate if she left no children or grandchildren through a son, and one-quarter (25%) if she left children or such grandchildren, including children from a previous marriage (Quran 4:12). If the total shares exceed the whole estate, Awl reduces every share proportionally, including his.

Sharia inheritance law is drawn from the Quran (mainly Surah An-Nisa 4:11, 4:12 and 4:176), the Sunnah and the consensus of jurists, and is studied as Ilm al-Faraid. Its core rules are that funeral costs, debts and a bequest of up to one-third come first, that close relatives receive fixed shares, and that a male heir generally receives twice a female heir of the same rank.

The four Sunni schools agree on the main shares but differ on details such as grandfathers with siblings and Radd (return of any surplus). This calculator follows the Hanafi school. Courts in some countries also apply local succession law, so check the rules where the estate is located.

A wife receives one-quarter (25%) of her husband's estate if he left no children or grandchildren through a son, and one-eighth (12.5%) if he left such descendants (Quran 4:12). If there is more than one wife, they share that single portion equally rather than each receiving it. Any unpaid dowry (mahr) is treated as a debt and paid before the estate is divided.

It depends on the line:

• Children of a son inherit only if the deceased has no living son. Grandsons are residuary heirs; granddaughters receive one-half (one) or two-thirds (two or more) if there is no daughter, or one-sixth if there is one daughter.
• Children of a daughter are not fixed or residuary heirs and inherit only as distant kindred if no closer heir survives.

Grandchildren left out of the shares can still receive a voluntary bequest (wasiyyah) of up to one-third from their grandparent, and some countries, such as Pakistan, give orphaned grandchildren their deceased parent's share by statute, so check local law.