Shar‘i Inheritance: Distribution Among Daughter, Brothers, and Sisters
Source: Fatawa Rashidiyyah, Page 630Question
Muhammad Karim Shah passed away leaving the following heirs:
◈ One daughter
◈ Four brothers
◈ Two sisters
Please clarify, according to the Shari‘ah of Muhammad ﷺ, how the estate (property, jewelry, and bank savings) should be distributed among the heirs.
Answer
Alhamdulillah, wa al-salatu wa al-salamu ‘ala Rasulillah, Amma ba‘d!
Before distribution, the following must be settled from the estate:
① Funeral expenses are deducted.
② Any debts are fully repaid.
③ If there is a valid will, it will be executed from up to one-third of the estate.
After these, the remaining estate — movable or immovable — will be divided as follows.
Distribution of Inheritance
Total Estate (assumed as 1 rupee):
| Heir | Share (paisa) | Share (anna) |
|---|---|---|
| Daughter | 50 paisa | – |
| Brother 1 | 10 paisa | – |
| Brother 2 | 10 paisa | – |
| Brother 3 | 10 paisa | – |
| Brother 4 | 10 paisa | – |
| Sister 1 | 5 paisa | – |
| Sister 2 | 5 paisa | – |
Modern Decimal Calculation
Total Estate = 100%
- Daughter: 50%
- Four brothers (residuaries/عصبہ): 40% → 10% each
- Two sisters (residuaries/عصبہ): 10% → 5% each
Conclusion
According to Shar‘i rulings:
- The daughter receives half (50%) as her fixed share.
- The remaining half is distributed among the brothers and sisters as residuaries, with each brother receiving double the share of each sister.
ھذا ما عندی، واللہ أعلم بالصواب
