A Difficult Time — But You Are Not Alone
When someone passes away, the family is left with many questions. Who gets what? How much does the wife receive? What happens to the daughters? What if one of the sons already passed away before the father?
These questions are hard enough without trying to read through long legal documents or complicated texts. That is why this guide exists. We want to give you clear, honest answers in simple language — answers grounded in the Quran and the Sunnah.
The Islamic system of inheritance is called Mirath (also spelled Meeras) or Faraid. The word Faraid comes from fard, meaning a fixed duty. Allah (SWT) has set specific shares for each family member. These shares are not guesses. They come directly from the Quran, in Surah An-Nisa (Chapter 4). A Muslim must follow these rules when dividing an estate.
Quranic Basis: In Surah An-Nisa (4:11–12 & 4:176), Allah says these shares are from Him — He is All-Knowing and All-Wise. The verse ends with a firm reminder that disobeying these rules carries a serious consequence. This is not a suggestion. It is a command from the Creator.
The Importance of Mirath: A Religious Duty
Many families in Pakistan and the Middle East make a common mistake. After a parent dies, the eldest son takes control and divides things "how he sees fit." Sometimes daughters are left out. Sometimes the widow gets less than her right. This happens because people do not know the correct rules.
In Islam, giving someone less than their rightful share is a sin. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: "Learn the Faraid and teach it to the people, for it is half of knowledge." (Ibn Majah)
Mirath calculation is not just a legal matter — it is an act of worship. When you calculate shares correctly and give each person their right, you are obeying Allah directly. When you deny someone their share — even unintentionally — there is a burden on the estate.
This is why using a reliable Islamic Inheritance Rules 2026 calculator is so valuable. It removes guesswork. It shows each heir their exact share according to Islamic law. And it gives the family confidence that they are doing what is right.
How the Calculator Works: The Shares-First Approach
Our calculator uses a method called the Shares-First approach. Here is how it works in simple steps:
Step 1: Enter the family members. You tell the calculator who was alive at the time of death — wife, sons, daughters, parents, and so on.
Step 2: The calculator assigns Quranic shares. Each heir gets a fixed fraction — like ¼, ⅛, ⅙, or ⅓ — based on who else is present. The calculator follows the exact rules from Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh).
Step 3: Optional — enter the Net Estate value. If you know the total value of the estate (after paying debts and funeral costs), you can enter it. The calculator will then show the actual amount each person receives in your local currency.
Net Estate = Gross Estate − Funeral Expenses − Debts − Wasiyyah (Bequest)
Only what remains after these deductions is divided among the heirs. This is the Islamic order — debts must be paid first. The Prophet (ﷺ) instructed that a believer's debts be settled before inheritance is distributed.
You do not need to enter a money value if you just want to know the fractions. The calculator will still show the correct share for each heir — perfect for families who want to understand the division before selling any property.
| Heir | Share | Condition | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wife (one wife) | 1/4 | No children | Drops to 1/8 if there are children |
| Wife (one wife) | 1/8 | With children | Shared equally among multiple wives |
| Husband | 1/2 | No children | Drops to 1/4 if there are children |
| Husband | 1/4 | With children | — |
| Daughter only | 1/2 | No son present | Two or more daughters share 2/3 |
| Daughter (with son) | 2:1 ratio | Son present | Son gets double the daughter's share |
| Father | 1/6 | With children | Gets residue if no male children |
| Mother | 1/6 | With children | Gets 1/3 if no children & no siblings |
| Son | Residuary | After fixed shares | Gets what remains after Quranic shares |
Scenario: A man dies leaving his wife, one son, and one daughter. No parents surviving.
Illustrative example only. Use the calculator above for your family's actual situation.
Who Inherits If a Son Dies First?
This is one of the most common questions families ask. What if a son died before his father? Do the son's children — the grandchildren — get anything?
Under standard Islamic inheritance rules, the answer is no — not automatically. In classical Faraid law, grandchildren are blocked by the surviving sons. Sons are the primary residuary heirs and take what remains after fixed shares are distributed.
However, many Muslim countries have introduced a legal mechanism to protect the children of a predeceased son. This is called the Wasiyyah Wajibah — the Mandatory Bequest. The grandchildren through the deceased son are given up to one-third of the estate as if their father were alive — before the rest is divided. This protects orphaned grandchildren from being left with nothing.
Example: A grandfather dies. He had two sons — Ali and Hassan. Hassan died two years earlier, leaving two children. Under Wasiyyah Wajibah, Hassan's children receive up to one-third of the grandfather's estate first. The rest then goes to Ali and any other heirs.
This rule is applied in Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, and many other countries. Our calculator handles this with the "Predeceased Child" option.
Common Scenarios Explained Simply
Shares for the Widow
The wife of the deceased always receives a fixed share. This is her right from Allah. No one can take it away.
If the husband had no children, the widow receives one-quarter (1/4) of the estate. If he had children, she receives one-eighth (1/8). If the husband had more than one wife, all wives share this amount equally between them — each wife does not get the full amount.
The widow also has a right that many families ignore: her mahr (dowry) must be paid to her in full before the estate is divided. If the mahr was promised but never paid during the marriage, it becomes a debt of the estate and is settled first.
Rights of Daughters — Inheritance for Daughters in Islam
There is a big misunderstanding in some families that daughters should not inherit, or that brothers can choose not to give them anything. This is completely wrong in Islam. It is a sin.
If there is one daughter and no sons, she gets exactly one-half (1/2) of the estate. If there are two or more daughters and no sons, they share two-thirds (2/3) equally between them.
If there are sons and daughters together, they share the residue after all fixed shares are paid. Each son gets double the share of each daughter (the 2:1 ratio). So if there are two sons and one daughter, the residue is split into five parts — each son gets two parts, and the daughter gets one part.
This rule does not mean daughters are less valued. It reflects a system where sons carry financial obligations — like paying mahr and supporting their own families — that daughters do not carry under Islamic law.
Parents' Portions
Both the father and mother of the deceased are heirs. They each receive a fixed share and neither one blocks the other.
The father receives one-sixth (1/6) when there are children. If there are no children, the father becomes a residuary heir and can receive a larger share. The mother receives one-sixth (1/6) when there are children, or when there are two or more siblings of the deceased. If there are no children and no multiple siblings, she receives one-third (1/3).
Husband and Wife Shares
The husband and wife shares in Islam are always fixed and always protected. They cannot be removed by any other heir. A simple way to remember them:
When a wife dies: the husband gets 1/2 if no children, or 1/4 if there are children. When a husband dies: the wife gets 1/4 if no children, or 1/8 if there are children. Multiple wives share this equally.
Mirath Calculation Made Simple
Many people think Mirath calculation is only for scholars. It is not. With the right tool, any family can understand it. Here is the basic process the calculator follows:
1. Identify who was alive when the person died. Only living heirs at the moment of death can inherit. A child in the womb at the time of death can still inherit.
2. Check for blockers (Hajb). Some heirs block others. A son blocks a grandson. A father blocks a grandfather. The calculator handles this automatically.
3. Assign fixed shares first. Pay the Quranic fractions to eligible heirs — wife, husband, mother, father, daughters.
4. Distribute the residue. What remains goes to the residuary heirs — usually sons (and daughters alongside them at 2:1).
5. Handle special cases. This includes predeceased children, missing heirs, or situations where shares exceed 100% (called Aul) — the calculator adjusts these proportionally.
To understand your Zakat obligations alongside estate planning, visit our Zakat Calculator. You may also find our Qurbani Share Tool useful, and our Prayer Times tool is always available for daily worship.
Debts must be paid before anyone receives their inheritance share. This is an Islamic rule. If the deceased owed money to a bank, a relative, or anyone else, those debts come out of the estate first. After debts and funeral costs are paid, the remaining amount (the Net Estate) is divided among the heirs using Faraid rules. Heirs are not personally responsible for the deceased's debts beyond what the estate can cover.
During your lifetime, you can give gifts (hibah) to any of your children, including your daughters. There is no restriction on gifts given while you are alive, though scholars recommend being fair between children. However, in your will you cannot give more than one-third of your estate to any heir through a bequest. The Faraid shares are fixed and automatically apply to the remaining two-thirds after death.
A step-son does not inherit automatically under Islamic law. Islamic inheritance is based on blood relations and legal marriage only. A step-child has no Faraid share. However, a person can voluntarily include a step-child in their bequest (wasiyyah) of up to one-third of the estate. This is especially recommended if the step-child was raised and cared for like one's own child.
An heir can choose to gift their share to others after receiving it — but they cannot be forced to give it up before distribution. If an adult heir voluntarily gives their share to another family member after correct distribution, that is permissible. What is not permissible is pressuring or tricking someone into giving up their rightful share before distribution. Each heir's share belongs to them the moment the person dies.
Under classical Islamic inheritance rules, a non-Muslim does not inherit from a Muslim, and a Muslim does not inherit from a non-Muslim. This comes from a hadith of the Prophet (ﷺ). However, many countries have civil laws that may override this in court. If your family has members of different faiths, consult both a qualified Islamic scholar and a civil law professional in your country.