What is Faraid, and why does it have special rules?
Faraid is the Islamic science that determines the shares of legal heirs from an estate after a Muslim's death. The Quran details most of these shares precisely in Surah An-Nisa, making this one of the most precisely defined areas of Islamic jurisprudence. Inheritance distribution is not a matter of personal discretion, but fixed rulings that balance fairness among heirs based on their degree of kinship and responsibilities.
Steps for Dividing an Estate
- Settling debts: the deceased's debts are paid from the estate before any distribution.
- Funeral expenses: deducted from the estate before calculating inheritance.
- Executing a bequest (Wasiyyah): if one exists, it is carried out up to one-third of the remainder only, and may not go to an heir.
- Distributing the rest to heirs: according to their legal shares detailed in the Quran and Sunnah.
Fixed-Share Heirs and Residuary Heirs
Heirs fall into two main categories: fixed-share heirs (Ashab al-Furud), who are given a defined share by Islamic law (such as half, a quarter, or a sixth), and residuary heirs (Asaba), who take whatever remains of the estate after the fixed-share heirs — and their share may be larger or smaller depending on the other heirs present. Sons, for example, inherit as residuary heirs; when they inherit alongside daughters, a son takes double a daughter's share.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can this calculator replace an official inheritance certificate?
No. This calculator is a guidance tool that illustrates the general principle of inheritance distribution in common cases, and does not replace an official inheritance certificate issued by a competent judicial authority, which accounts for every legal and religious detail of the case.
What if there are siblings or grandparents among the heirs?
This calculator does not currently cover cases involving siblings or grandparents, as these fall under more detailed jurisprudential rules (such as siblings being excluded by the presence of a father or son, and differing rulings for full siblings versus maternal siblings). A religious specialist should be consulted for these cases.
Why does a son receive double a daughter's share?
When sons and daughters inherit together, they inherit as residuary heirs (splitting what remains after fixed-share heirs) with a male receiving the share of two females — a rule explicitly stated in the Quran, reflecting the financial obligations that were (and in many contexts still are) placed on males, such as maintenance and dowry.
What is the "Awl" case that may appear in the result?
Awl occurs when the sum of the fixed-share heirs' portions exceeds the entire estate, in which case all shares are proportionally reduced to balance with the actual estate value. This calculator applies this correction automatically when it occurs.