⚖️ Inheritance Calculator

Distribute an estate according to the prescribed shares of Surah An-Nisa (4:11-12). Select the surviving heirs, enter the estate value, and we apply the fixed shares (fard) and residue (ta'sib) automatically.

يُوصِيكُمُ اللَّهُ فِي أَوْلَادِكُمْ ۖ لِلذَّكَرِ مِثْلُ حَظِّ الْأُنثَيَيْنِ
"Allah instructs you concerning your children: for the male, what is equal to the share of two females…"
Surah An-Nisa · 4:11

The Estate & Heirs

After settling funeral expenses, debts, and bequests up to one-third.

$

Spouse

single

Children

Parents

single
single

Grandparents (only if parent deceased)

Siblings (if no descendants & father deceased)

Calculation Work

Step-by-step application of the fixed shares (fard) followed by residue distribution.

Select heirs to see the calculation.
Distribution

Each heir's share

Based on Quranic shares and the doctrine of 'asabah (agnatic residuaries).

Total estate
  • No heirs selected.

The Six Quranic Fractions (Fard Shares)

1/2
An-Nisf
النصف
1/3
Ath-Thuluth
الثلث
1/4
Ar-Rub'
الربع
1/6
As-Sudus
السدس
1/8
Ath-Thumun
الثمن
2/3
Ath-Thuluthan
الثلثان

Islamic Inheritance (Faraidh / Mirath)

Faraidh (Arabic: الفرائض) — the science of Islamic inheritance — is one of the most precisely codified areas of Islamic law. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: "Learn the laws of inheritance and teach them to the people, for they are half of useful knowledge." (Sunan Ibn Majah). Unlike most fields of fiqh, the core shares are fixed directly in the Quran — primarily in verses 11, 12, and 176 of Surah An-Nisa.

The Order of Distribution

Before any heir receives anything, four prior claims must be settled from the estate, in strict order:

  1. Funeral expenses — reasonable burial costs.
  2. Outstanding debts — both to Allah (unpaid zakat, missed kaffarah) and to other people.
  3. Bequests (wasiyyah) — up to a maximum of one-third of the remaining estate, to non-heirs.
  4. Distribution to heirs — the remainder, divided by Quranic shares and residue.

Fard Shares — The Six Quranic Fractions

The Quran specifies six fixed fractions: 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 2/3, 1/3, and 1/6. Spouses, parents, and daughters (in the absence of sons) receive their share as a fixed fraction. The presence or absence of other heirs can shift these fractions (for example, a wife's share is 1/4 with no children but 1/8 with children).

Asabah — The Residuary Heirs

After the fixed shares are distributed, the residue (baqi) goes to the asabah: the male agnatic relatives, in order of closeness — sons, then sons' sons, then father, then paternal grandfather, then full brothers, then paternal half-brothers, and onward. When a son is present, daughters become his "co-residuary" (ta'sib bi-l-ghayr), each receiving half a son's share.

Aul, Radd, and Hajb

Three corrective doctrines may apply: Aul (proportional reduction) when the sum of fard shares exceeds the whole; Radd (proportional return) when shares fall short and no residuary heir exists; and Hajb (exclusion) when a nearer heir blocks a more distant one (e.g. a son blocks the brothers entirely). Complex cases involving these doctrines should always be reviewed by a qualified scholar.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I write a will leaving everything to one heir?

No. A Muslim cannot bequeath to anyone who is already entitled to a fixed Quranic share. Bequests are reserved for non-heirs, and capped at one-third of the estate after debts. The remaining two-thirds must be distributed according to the Quranic shares.

Why does a son get twice a daughter's share?

In Islamic law the son carries the financial obligation to support his wife, his children, his parents in old age, and unmarried sisters. The daughter is herself supported by her father or husband and her wealth remains entirely her own. The 2:1 ratio reflects this asymmetric duty — daughters keep their share for themselves; sons must spend theirs to maintain a family.

Is this calculator a substitute for a scholar?

No. This calculator is educational and covers common cases. Real estates frequently involve doctrines of Aul, Radd, Hajb, and the special rules for half-siblings and grandchildren that require scholarly judgement. Always have your final distribution reviewed by a qualified 'alim or by an Islamic court (mahkama shar'iyya) in your jurisdiction.

What happens if there are no heirs at all?

If no Quranic heir or asabah exists, the estate typically reverts to the public treasury (bayt al-mal) for the benefit of Muslims at large. Some scholars allow radd to distant relatives (dhawu al-arham) such as maternal uncles and paternal aunts before this step.

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