Sharia Law Inheritance Calculator

Calculate the distribution of an estate according to Islamic inheritance laws.

Heir & Estate Information

Surviving Family Members

What is a Sharia Law Inheritance Calculator?

A Sharia Law Inheritance Calculator is a digital tool designed to simplify the complex process of dividing a deceased Muslim’s estate according to the specific rules laid out in the Qur’an and the Sunnah. This field of Islamic jurisprudence is known as ‘Ilm al-Farā’iḍ’ (the science of the ordained quotas). Its purpose is to ensure a just and divinely-guided distribution of wealth among the rightful heirs, preventing disputes and upholding religious obligations. This calculator automates the fixed shares assigned to primary heirs and the distribution of the remaining estate to other relatives based on a clear hierarchy. The rules are divine commandments and are not subject to the deceased’s personal wishes, except for a small portion (up to one-third) which can be allocated via a will (Wasiyya) to non-heirs.

Sharia Inheritance Formula and Explanation

Islamic inheritance law is not a single formula but a comprehensive system of rules. It first allocates fixed shares (Fard) to a group of primary heirs known as ‘Ashab al-Furud’ (the Qur’anic Heirs). If there is any remaining estate after their shares are distributed, it goes to the ‘Asaba’ (Residuaries). The primary shares are explicitly mentioned in the Qur’an (notably in Surah An-Nisa).

The core principle is that certain heirs have non-negotiable claims. The main fixed shares are 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 2/3, 1/3, and 1/6. The specific share an heir receives depends on the other surviving relatives. For example, a husband’s share is 1/2 if his deceased wife had no children, but it is reduced to 1/4 if she did. Similarly, a wife’s share is 1/4 if her husband had no children, but 1/8 if he did.

Variables Table (Primary Heirs)

Heir	Condition	Share	Typical Range (as a fraction)
Husband	Deceased wife has no children	1/2	1/2 or 1/4
Husband	Deceased wife has children	1/4	1/2 or 1/4
Wife/Wives	Deceased husband has no children	1/4	1/4 or 1/8
Wife/Wives	Deceased husband has children	1/8	1/4 or 1/8
Daughter (one)	No sons	1/2	1/2 or part of residuary
Daughters (two or more)	No sons	2/3 (shared)	2/3 or part of residuary
Son(s)	With or without daughters	Residuary (with daughters at 2:1 ratio)	Variable
Father	Deceased has children	1/6	1/6 or more
Mother	Deceased has children	1/6	1/6 or 1/3

For more detailed scenarios, please use a specialized faraid calculator.

Practical Examples

Example 1: Man leaves behind a wife, two sons, and one daughter

• Inputs: Total Estate = 240,000, Wives = 1, Sons = 2, Daughters = 1, Father = No, Mother = No.
• Calculation:
  1. The wife receives her fixed share of 1/8 because there are children. Share = 240,000 * 1/8 = 30,000.
  2. The remaining estate is 240,000 – 30,000 = 210,000.
  3. The sons and daughter inherit the remainder as ‘Asaba’. The son’s share is double the daughter’s. We have (2 sons * 2 parts) + (1 daughter * 1 part) = 5 total parts.
  4. Value per part = 210,000 / 5 = 42,000.
• Results:
  • Wife: 30,000
  • Each Son: 42,000 * 2 = 84,000 (Total for sons = 168,000)
  • Daughter: 42,000 * 1 = 42,000

Example 2: Woman leaves behind a husband, mother, and father

• Inputs: Total Estate = 120,000, Husband = Yes, Mother = Yes, Father = Yes, No children.
• Calculation:
  1. The husband receives 1/2 as there are no children. Share = 120,000 * 1/2 = 60,000.
  2. The mother receives 1/3 of the *remainder* (not the total), as both the husband and father are present. This is a special case known as Al-Umariyyatayn. Remainder = 120,000 – 60,000 = 60,000. Mother’s share = 60,000 * 1/3 = 20,000.
  3. The father receives the rest as the residuary heir. Share = 120,000 – 60,000 (husband) – 20,000 (mother) = 40,000.
• Results:
  • Husband: 60,000
  • Mother: 20,000
  • Father: 40,000

Understanding the rules of inheritance is crucial for proper distribution.

How to Use This Sharia Law Inheritance Calculator

1. Enter Estate Value: Input the total net worth of the deceased’s estate after settling all debts, funeral costs, and any Islamic wills (Wasiyya).
2. Select Deceased’s Gender: Choose whether the deceased was male or female, as this affects spousal inheritance.
3. Specify Heirs: Use the number fields and checkboxes to indicate which family members survived the deceased. Be accurate, as each heir’s presence can affect the shares of others.
4. Calculate: Click the “Calculate Shares” button to process the information.
5. Review Results: The calculator will display the monetary value and the fractional share for each eligible heir. A chart will also provide a visual breakdown.

Key Factors That Affect Sharia Inheritance

• Presence of a Son: A son makes himself, his sisters, and his paternal grandfather residuary heirs (‘Asaba), fundamentally changing the distribution from fixed shares to residual portions.
• Presence of Children: The existence of any children (sons or daughters) reduces the share of the spouse (husband from 1/2 to 1/4, wife from 1/4 to 1/8).
• Number of Daughters: A single daughter with no sons receives 1/2 of the estate. Two or more daughters with no sons share 2/3.
• Surviving Parents: The presence of a father can block siblings from inheriting. The mother’s share can also change depending on whether the deceased had children or siblings.
• Spouse’s Presence with Parents: The two special cases known as “Al-Umariyyatayn” occur when the only heirs are the spouse and the parents, altering the mother’s standard 1/3 share.
• ‘Awb (Increase) & ‘Radd (Return): If the sum of fixed shares is more than 1, all shares are proportionally reduced (‘Awb). If the sum is less than 1 and there are no residuary heirs, the remainder is returned to the fixed-share heirs proportionally (‘Radd’).

You can learn more by exploring different inheritance scenarios.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What happens before the inheritance is calculated?

Before distribution, three things must be paid from the estate: funeral expenses, all outstanding debts of the deceased, and the execution of any valid will (Wasiyya), which can be up to 1/3 of the remaining estate.

2. Does this calculator include the will (Wasiyya)?

No, this calculator only distributes the mandatory two-thirds of the estate as per Sharia. The Wasiyya amount (up to 1/3) should be deducted from the net estate before using this calculator.

3. Why does a son get twice the share of a daughter?

This is based on Qur’anic injunction. Islamic legal scholars explain this by noting the different financial responsibilities placed on men, who are obligated to provide for their entire family, whereas a woman’s wealth is entirely her own.

4. Can a non-Muslim relative inherit?

No, under Islamic law, there is no mutual inheritance between Muslims and non-Muslims. However, a Muslim may bequeath up to 1/3 of their wealth in a will to a non-Muslim relative.

5. What about adopted or step-children?

Adopted children, step-children, and illegitimate children do not have a right to the mandatory inheritance. They can, however, be beneficiaries of a will (Wasiyya).

6. What happens if the total shares add up to more than 100%?

This is a recognized situation called ‘Awb’ (Increase). In this case, the denominator of the shares is increased to the sum of the numerators, proportionally reducing each heir’s share to ensure the total is 100%.

7. What if there is money left over after all fixed shares are given out?

If there are no residuary heirs (like a son or father), the remaining amount is returned to the fixed-share heirs (excluding the spouse) in proportion to their original shares. This is called ‘Radd’ (Return).

8. Are grandchildren entitled to inherit?

Grandchildren can inherit, but the rules are complex. Generally, a son’s children can inherit if the son himself is deceased. They are typically blocked from inheriting if the son is alive.

Further reading on how to split inheritance can provide additional clarity.