Islamic Inheritance Calculator (Mirath)
Calculate Islamic inheritance shares (Faraid) according to the Quran and Sunnah. Supports Hanafi and Shafi'i schools with full Awl and Radd calculations.
Faraid (Islamic inheritance law) from Surah An-Nisa 4:11-12 prescribes fixed shares: spouses, parents, children, and siblings each receive set fractions. Male children typically receive twice the share of female children; distributions vary by school (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, Hanbali).
Enter surviving relatives below to see your detailed distribution.
Estate Details
Maximum one-third: £33,333
Grandfather blocks siblings entirely
Surviving Heirs, Select All That Apply
Spouse
Parents & Grandparents
Children
Siblings
Inheritance Distribution
Select at least one surviving heir above to see the distribution.
This is an educational estimate. Consult a qualified Islamic scholar and solicitor for legally binding estate planning.
Why Islamic Inheritance Matters, Even If You Think You Know the Basics
Think of Islamic inheritance as a pre-set distribution algorithm written directly into the Quran. Unlike most legal systems where you can leave everything to whoever you like, Islamic law prescribes exact fractions for specific relatives. A husband gets a quarter or a half. A daughter gets a half or two-thirds. These aren't suggestions. They're obligations.
And here's what catches most people out: in the UK, US, Canada, and Australia, these rules don't apply automatically. If you die without a will, your country's intestacy law kicks in, and none of them follow Faraid. A British Muslim who dies intestate has their estate divided under English law, not Quranic law. The spouse could receive everything. Siblings could inherit nothing. That's not what the Quran prescribes.
The solution is straightforward. Write a will. But writing a will that correctly implements Faraid while also being legally valid in your jurisdiction, that's the tricky part. This calculator shows you how the shares work so you can walk into a solicitor's office (or attorney's office) already understanding what the Quran requires.
How Faraid Calculations Actually Work
Before a single penny gets divided among heirs, four things must be settled from the estate, in this order:
Funeral & Burial Costs
Reasonable burial expenses including kafan (shroud), washing, and grave. Not extravagant.
Outstanding Debts
All debts must be cleared, including unpaid Zakat, which is a debt to Allah. Mortgage, loans, credit cards.
Wasiyyah (Bequests)
Up to one-third of the remainder can be bequeathed to non-heirs or charity. You cannot use this to give extra to an existing heir.
Faraid Distribution
The remaining estate is divided according to the Quranic shares. This is what the calculator computes.
The Quran prescribes six fixed fractions: 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 2/3, 1/3, and 1/6. Each heir gets a specific fraction depending on who else is alive. A daughter gets 1/2 if she's the only child, but if there's a son, both children share the residue in a 2:1 ratio. Context changes everything.
Complete Heir Share Reference
Every possible heir and their Quranic share, with the conditions that trigger each fraction. Search by heir name or filter by category.
| Heir | Arabic | Primary Share | Condition | Alternate | Verse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Husband | الزوج | 1/2 | No children or grandchildren | 1/4 (With children) | 4:12 |
| Wife | الزوجة | 1/4 | No children or grandchildren | 1/8 (With children) | 4:12 |
| Father | الأب | 1/6 + residue | With sons | Residue only (No children) | 4:11 |
| Mother | الأم | 1/6 | With children or 2+ siblings | 1/3 (No children, <2 siblings) | 4:11 |
| 1 Daughter | البنت | 1/2 | No sons | Residue (2:1) (With sons) | 4:11 |
| 2+ Daughters | البنات | 2/3 | No sons | Residue (2:1) (With sons) | 4:11 |
| Son | الابن | Residue | Always residuary (asaba) | — (—) | 4:11 |
| 1 Full Sister | الأخت الشقيقة | 1/2 | No children, no father | Residue (2:1) (With full brother) | 4:176 |
| 2+ Full Sisters | الأخوات | 2/3 | No children, no father | Residue (2:1) (With full brother) | 4:176 |
| Maternal Sibling | الأخ لأم | 1/6 | Kalalah (one sibling) | 1/3 shared (Kalalah (2+ siblings)) | 4:12 |
| Grandmother | الجدة | 1/6 | Mother not alive | — (Blocked by mother) | Hadith |
| Grandfather | الجد | 1/6 + residue | Father not alive (with children) | Complex rules (Father not alive (with siblings)) | Hadith/Ijtihad |
What this means for you: The share each heir receives depends entirely on who else is alive. A mother's share changes from 1/3 to 1/6 simply because two siblings exist. Before arguing over amounts, understand that the Quran's system is conditional, every share is relative to the complete picture of surviving heirs.
Source: Surah An-Nisa 4:11-12, 4:176. Grandmother's share from Hadith narrated by al-Mughirah ibn Shu'bah (Tirmidhi).
Real-World Worked Examples
Example 1: Ahmed in Birmingham, £200,000 estate
Ahmed passes away leaving a wife, one son, and one daughter. His estate is £200,000 after debts and funeral costs. He left a £20,000 wasiyyah to his local mosque.
Distributable estate: £200,000 - £20,000 wasiyyah = £180,000
Wife: 1/8 (has children) = £22,500
Residue: £157,500 shared between son and daughter in 2:1 ratio
Son: 2/3 of residue = £105,000
Daughter: 1/3 of residue = £52,500
Under UK intestacy law (without a will), the wife would receive the first £322,000 and personal possessions, taking the entire estate. The children would receive nothing. This is why a will is essential.
Example 2: Fatimah in Houston, $350,000 estate
Fatimah passes away leaving a husband, mother, and two daughters. No sons. Estate is $350,000 after debts. No wasiyyah.
Husband: 1/4 (has children) = $87,500
Mother: 1/6 (has children) = $58,333
Two daughters: 2/3 = $233,333
Total shares: 1/4 + 1/6 + 2/3 = 3/12 + 2/12 + 8/12 = 13/12, exceeds 1!
Awl applies: Denominator increases from 12 to 13. Each share reduces proportionally.
Adjusted: Husband 3/13 = $80,769 | Mother 2/13 = $53,846 | Daughters 8/13 = $215,385
Texas is a community property state, only Fatimah's half of marital assets enters her estate. Her husband's half is already his. An attorney must determine the estate value first.
Example 3: Khadijah, simple kalalah case (no children, no parents)
Khadijah dies leaving a husband, one full sister, and one maternal half-brother. Estate is £80,000 equivalent. No children, no parents, no grandparents alive.
Husband: 1/2 (no children) = £40,000
Full sister: 1/2 (kalalah, one sister) = £40,000
Maternal half-brother: 1/6 (kalalah, one maternal sibling) = £13,333
Total: 1/2 + 1/2 + 1/6 = 7/6, Awl applies
Adjusted: Husband 3/7 = £34,286 | Sister 3/7 = £34,286 | Half-brother 1/7 = £11,429
Example 4: Where Madhab Changes Everything, Grandfather + Siblings
Yusuf dies leaving a wife, paternal grandfather, and two full brothers. Estate is £120,000. No children, no father.
Hanafi Ruling:
Wife: 1/4 = £30,000
Grandfather: Residue = £90,000
Full brothers: NOTHING (blocked by grandfather)
Shafi'i Ruling:
Wife: 1/4 = £30,000
Grandfather: 1/3 of residue = £30,000
Full brothers: 2/3 of residue = £60,000
Same family, same estate, but the brothers receive either £0 or £60,000 depending on which school you follow. This is why the madhab selector matters.
Example 5: Estate with Islamic Mortgage (Diminishing Musharakah)
Ibrahim in London has a home worth £450,000 purchased via an Islamic mortgage (diminishing musharakah) with £200,000 remaining. His total estate includes the home, £50,000 savings, and £30,000 in shares.
Home equity: £450,000 - £200,000 = £250,000 (Ibrahim's share of the partnership)
Total estate: £250,000 + £50,000 + £30,000 = £330,000
Unlike a conventional mortgage (which is a debt), a diminishing musharakah means the bank co-owns the property. Only Ibrahim's ownership percentage enters his estate. The bank's share was never his.
For conventional mortgages, the full property value enters the estate and the outstanding mortgage is deducted as a debt. The net effect is similar, but the Islamic finance structure is conceptually different.
Example 6: Maryam's Wasiyyah, The One-Third Rule
Maryam in Toronto leaves C$240,000. She wants C$100,000 to go to her orphanage charity. But the one-third limit means only C$80,000 can go to non-heirs.
Maximum wasiyyah: C$240,000 ÷ 3 = C$80,000
Reduced wasiyyah: C$80,000 (not the requested C$100,000)
For Faraid: C$240,000 - C$80,000 = C$160,000
The other heirs can choose to honour the full C$100,000, but they're not obligated to. If all heirs consent, it's permissible. Otherwise, the one-third cap applies.
Where the Four Schools Disagree
The Quran's inheritance verses are remarkably detailed, but scholars still disagree on edge cases. These aren't minor theological debates. In Example 4 above, the choice of madhab meant the difference between £0 and £60,000 for two brothers.
| Issue | Hanafi | Shafi'i | Maliki | Hanbali | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grandfather vs siblings | Grandfather blocks all siblings entirely | Siblings share with grandfather (complex rules) | Siblings share with grandfather | Siblings share with grandfather | Major, can change entire distribution |
| Umariyyatan (spouse + both parents, no children) | Mother gets 1/3 of remainder | Mother gets 1/3 of remainder | Mother gets 1/3 of whole estate | Mother gets 1/3 of remainder | Moderate, affects mother's share |
| Radd (surplus) to spouse | Spouse excluded from radd | Spouse excluded from radd | Spouse excluded from radd | Some scholars include spouse | Minor, rare cases |
| Full sister with daughter (asaba ma'a ghayrihi) | Full sister becomes residuary with daughter | Full sister becomes residuary with daughter | Full sister becomes residuary with daughter | Full sister becomes residuary with daughter | All schools agree |
| Musharraka case (husband + mother/grandmother + uterine siblings + full siblings) | Full siblings get nothing (uterine take 1/3) | Full siblings share the 1/3 with uterine siblings | Full siblings share the 1/3 with uterine siblings | Full siblings get nothing (follows Hanafi view) | Major, famous case of scholarly disagreement |
What this means for you: If you follow a specific madhab, use that school's rulings consistently, don't mix and match to get a preferred outcome. If you're unsure which school applies to you, consult your local imam or a scholar from your community's tradition.
Making It Legal, What Your Country Requires
Knowing the Faraid shares is only half the job. You need a legally valid will or estate plan that your country's courts will actually enforce. Here's what that looks like in each jurisdiction.
United Kingdom
Ministry of Justice / Law SocietyRequirement: Must write a will, UK intestacy law does not follow Faraid
How to comply: Draft a Sharia-compliant will with a solicitor specialising in Islamic wills. The Law Society has a panel. Costs £300-800.
Scotland has different rules to England/Wales, forced heirship provisions may conflict
United States
State probate courtsRequirement: Must create an estate plan, state probate law applies by default
How to comply: Work with an attorney familiar with Islamic estate planning. Trusts can be more flexible than wills. Costs $500-2,000.
Community property states (CA, TX, etc.) treat marital assets differently, affects what enters the estate
Canada
Provincial courtsRequirement: Provincial law governs estates, no automatic Islamic distribution
How to comply: Create a will with a lawyer. Some provinces have forced heirship provisions that may limit Faraid compliance.
Quebec's Civil Code has mandatory provisions for dependants that may override some Faraid shares
Australia
State/territory supreme courtsRequirement: State/territory succession law applies, will required for Faraid
How to comply: Engage a solicitor experienced in multicultural estate planning. Family provision claims can override will terms.
All states allow family provision claims, a dependant can challenge a will even if it follows Faraid
Muslim-majority countries
Sharia courts / Family courtsRequirement: Faraid may be codified in personal status law
How to comply: Check your country's family/personal status code. Some apply Faraid automatically; others require registration.
Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Pakistan, each has different codification. Some apply specific madhab by default.
Critical Warning for UK Muslims
Under UK intestacy rules, if you die without a will your spouse receives the first £322,000 and all personal possessions. If your estate is under this amount, your children receive absolutely nothing. This directly contradicts Faraid. Writing a Sharia-compliant will is not optional, it's a religious and practical necessity.
When the Maths Doesn't Balance: Awl and Radd
Awl (Proportional Reduction)
Sometimes the fixed shares add up to more than 100%. When husband gets 1/2, two sisters get 2/3, and mother gets 1/6, that's 3/6 + 4/6 + 1/6 = 8/6. There's more pie than pie.
The solution: increase the denominator from 6 to 8. Everyone keeps their numerator but the slices get proportionally smaller. Nobody is cut out entirely, the burden is shared fairly.
Radd (Return of Surplus)
The opposite problem. Fixed shares total less than 100% and there are no residuary heirs to absorb the excess. Mother gets 1/3, grandmother gets 1/6, that's only 1/2. What happens to the other half?
Most scholars redistribute proportionally among the fixed-share heirs (except the spouse). So mother's share grows and grandmother's grows in proportion to their original fractions.
Common Mistakes People Make
Dying without a will
In the UK, US, Canada, and Australia, intestacy law applies, not Faraid. Without a will, your estate follows rules that likely contradict Quranic distribution.
Using wasiyyah for an existing heir
You can't bequeath extra to someone who already inherits under Faraid. A wasiyyah to a Faraid heir requires the consent of all other heirs, and they can refuse.
Ignoring debts before distribution
All debts, including unpaid Zakat, must be settled before inheritance is calculated. Distributing an indebted estate is incorrect in all schools.
Mixing madhab rulings to suit preferences
Some people pick the Hanafi view on one issue and the Shafi'i view on another to maximise a particular heir's share. This 'talfiq' approach is generally not accepted.
Forgetting joint assets don't all belong to the deceased
A jointly owned house with a spouse, only the deceased's share enters the estate. In community property states (US), this is typically 50%.
Not updating the will after life changes
Marriage, divorce, birth of children, death of a parent, all change the inheritance calculation. Review your will after every major life event.
Expert Tips for Estate Planning
Use the wasiyyah strategically
The one-third bequest is your tool for charitable giving and supporting non-heirs (adopted children, step-children, friends). Use it wisely, it's the only part you control freely.
Consider a trust alongside the will
In the US and UK, a trust can protect assets from probate, reduce inheritance tax (UK) or estate tax (US), and ensure Faraid distribution happens without court intervention.
Get professional help, both Islamic and legal
You need two experts: a scholar who understands Faraid, and a solicitor/attorney who understands your country's estate law. Neither alone is sufficient.
Calculate Zakat on the estate
If the deceased had unpaid Zakat, it must be calculated and paid from the estate before distribution. This is a debt to Allah and takes priority over inheritance shares.
Islamic Finance and Inheritance
For those with Sharia-compliant financial products, estate calculation works slightly differently. A conventional mortgage is a debt, it reduces the estate. But an Islamic mortgage (diminishing musharakah) is a partnership, the bank owns part of the property, so only your ownership percentage enters the estate.
Similarly, takaful (Islamic insurance) payouts may or may not enter the estate depending on the policy structure. Some takaful policies name specific beneficiaries outside Faraid, check your policy documents. For investment accounts held in Sharia-compliant funds, the market value on the date of death is what enters the estate.
If you're unsure how your Islamic financial products interact with inheritance, both your financial provider and a qualified scholar should be consulted. The AAOIFI (Accounting and Auditing Organisation for Islamic Financial Institutions) publishes standards on these interactions.
Sources and Scholarly References
Primary Quranic Sources: Surah An-Nisa 4:11-12 (children, parents, spouses), 4:176 (kalalah/siblings)
Hadith Sources: Sahih al-Bukhari (Book of Inheritance), Sahih Muslim, Sunan Abu Dawud, Sunan at-Tirmidhi
Classical Texts: Al-Sirajiyyah (Hanafi), Rahbiyyah (Shafi'i), Al-Mughni by Ibn Qudamah (Hanbali comparative)
UK Legal: Law Society Practice Note on Sharia Succession Rules (2022), Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975
US Legal: Uniform Probate Code, state-specific probate statutes
Islamic Finance: AAOIFI Sharia Standards (2024), Islamic Financial Services Board guidelines
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How to use this tool
Select the deceased's gender and surviving heirs
Enter the total estate value and any wasiyyah (bequest)
Choose your school of thought, Hanafi or Shafi'i
Common uses
- Calculating Faraid shares before writing an Islamic will
- Understanding each heir's Quranic entitlement
- Comparing Hanafi vs Shafi'i inheritance rulings
- Planning estate distribution with wasiyyah (one-third bequest)
- Learning the Islamic inheritance system with real examples
- Preparing for a meeting with a solicitor about a Sharia-compliant will
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