Sharʿi Distribution of Inheritance: Shares of Parents, Widow, Sons, and Daughters
Source: Aḥkām wa Masāʾil, Volume 1, Page 404
(Guidance on Distribution of Inheritance in Light of Qur’an and Ḥadīth)
Two and a half months ago, a person passed away by the decree of Allah – Innā lillāhi wa innā ilayhi rājiʿūn – leaving behind eleven heirs:
If the total estate (cash and property) amounts to 100,000 rupees, then according to Sharīʿah, how should the inheritance be divided among them?
Also, according to the Qur’an and Ḥadīth, what is the reward for those who abide by the limits prescribed by Allah and His Messenger ﷺ, and what is the fate of those who violate these limits in the distribution of inheritance?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
According to Islamic Sharīʿah, the distribution of the estate in the mentioned case will be as follows:
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿وَلِأَبَوَيۡهِ لِكُلِّ وَٰحِدٖ مِّنۡهُمَا ٱلسُّدُسُ مِمَّا تَرَكَ إِن كَانَ لَهُۥ وَلَدٞۚ﴾
(al-Nisāʾ: 11)
Translation:
“If the deceased has children, each of his parents shall receive one-sixth of what he left behind.”
Hence:
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿فَإِن كَانَ لَكُمۡ وَلَدٞ فَلَهُنَّ ٱلثُّمُنُ مِمَّا تَرَكۡتُمۚ﴾
(al-Nisāʾ: 12)
Translation:
“And if you leave behind children, then your wives shall receive one-eighth of what you left behind.”
Hence:
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿يُوصِيكُمُ ٱللَّهُ فِيٓ أَوۡلَٰدِكُمۡۖ لِلذَّكَرِ مِثۡلُ حَظِّ ٱلۡأُنثَيَيۡنِۚ﴾
(al-Nisāʾ: 11)
Translation:
“Allah commands you concerning your children: for the male is the share of two females.”
Thus:
Base Division (aṣl al-masʾalah): 24
Adjustment (tasfiyah): 24 × 11 = 264 (total units of division)
Children’s Shares:
➤ Each son = 2 × (143/11) = 26 units = 9,848.48 rupees
➤ Each daughter = 1 × (143/11) = 13 units = 4,924.24 rupees
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿وَمَن يُطِعِ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ يُدۡخِلۡهُ جَنَّٰتٖ تَجۡرِي مِن تَحۡتِهَا ٱلۡأَنۡهَٰرُ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَاۚ وَذَٰلِكَ ٱلۡفَوۡزُ ٱلۡعَظِيمُ﴾
(al-Nisāʾ: 13)
Translation:
“And whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger, He will admit him into Gardens beneath which rivers flow, abiding therein forever. And that is the great success.”
Allah ﷻ warns:
﴿وَمَن يَعۡصِ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ وَيَتَعَدَّ حُدُودَهُۥ يُدۡخِلۡهُ نَارٗا خَٰلِدٗا فِيهَا وَلَهُۥ عَذَابٞ مُّهِينٞ﴾
(al-Nisāʾ: 14)
Translation:
“And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger and transgresses His limits, He will cast him into the Fire to remain therein, and he shall have a humiliating punishment.”
ھٰذا مَا عِندِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
Source: Aḥkām wa Masāʾil, Volume 1, Page 404
(Guidance on Distribution of Inheritance in Light of Qur’an and Ḥadīth)
❖ Question
Two and a half months ago, a person passed away by the decree of Allah – Innā lillāhi wa innā ilayhi rājiʿūn – leaving behind eleven heirs:
- Father
- Mother
- Widow
- Three sons
- Five daughters
If the total estate (cash and property) amounts to 100,000 rupees, then according to Sharīʿah, how should the inheritance be divided among them?
Also, according to the Qur’an and Ḥadīth, what is the reward for those who abide by the limits prescribed by Allah and His Messenger ﷺ, and what is the fate of those who violate these limits in the distribution of inheritance?
❖ Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
According to Islamic Sharīʿah, the distribution of the estate in the mentioned case will be as follows:
✔ Parents’ Share
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿وَلِأَبَوَيۡهِ لِكُلِّ وَٰحِدٖ مِّنۡهُمَا ٱلسُّدُسُ مِمَّا تَرَكَ إِن كَانَ لَهُۥ وَلَدٞۚ﴾
(al-Nisāʾ: 11)
Translation:
“If the deceased has children, each of his parents shall receive one-sixth of what he left behind.”
Hence:
- Father = 1/6
- Mother = 1/6
✔ Widow’s Share
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿فَإِن كَانَ لَكُمۡ وَلَدٞ فَلَهُنَّ ٱلثُّمُنُ مِمَّا تَرَكۡتُمۚ﴾
(al-Nisāʾ: 12)
Translation:
“And if you leave behind children, then your wives shall receive one-eighth of what you left behind.”
Hence:
- Widow = 1/8
✔ Children’s Share
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿يُوصِيكُمُ ٱللَّهُ فِيٓ أَوۡلَٰدِكُمۡۖ لِلذَّكَرِ مِثۡلُ حَظِّ ٱلۡأُنثَيَيۡنِۚ﴾
(al-Nisāʾ: 11)
Translation:
“Allah commands you concerning your children: for the male is the share of two females.”
Thus:
- Each son receives twice the share of each daughter.
✿ Detailed Distribution
Base Division (aṣl al-masʾalah): 24
Adjustment (tasfiyah): 24 × 11 = 264 (total units of division)
| Heir | Fraction Share | % Share | Units out of 264 | Value (Rs.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Father | 1/6 = 4/24 | 16.66% | 44 | 16,666.67 |
| Mother | 1/6 = 4/24 | 16.66% | 44 | 16,666.67 |
| Widow | 1/8 = 3/24 | 12.5% | 33 | 12,500 |
| Children | Remaining 13/24 | 54.16% | 143 | 54,166.66 |
Children’s Shares:
- Total heirs = 3 sons + 5 daughters = 8
- Ratio: Each son = 2 shares, each daughter = 1 share
- Total units for children = (3×2) + (5×1) = 11
- Divide 143 units among 11:
➤ Each son = 2 × (143/11) = 26 units = 9,848.48 rupees
➤ Each daughter = 1 × (143/11) = 13 units = 4,924.24 rupees
✔ Reward for Abiding by Sharīʿah
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿وَمَن يُطِعِ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ يُدۡخِلۡهُ جَنَّٰتٖ تَجۡرِي مِن تَحۡتِهَا ٱلۡأَنۡهَٰرُ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَاۚ وَذَٰلِكَ ٱلۡفَوۡزُ ٱلۡعَظِيمُ﴾
(al-Nisāʾ: 13)
Translation:
“And whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger, He will admit him into Gardens beneath which rivers flow, abiding therein forever. And that is the great success.”
Punishment for Violating Sharīʿah
Allah ﷻ warns:
﴿وَمَن يَعۡصِ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ وَيَتَعَدَّ حُدُودَهُۥ يُدۡخِلۡهُ نَارٗا خَٰلِدٗا فِيهَا وَلَهُۥ عَذَابٞ مُّهِينٞ﴾
(al-Nisāʾ: 14)
Translation:
“And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger and transgresses His limits, He will cast him into the Fire to remain therein, and he shall have a humiliating punishment.”
ھٰذا مَا عِندِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
