Islamic Inheritance Calculator
Calculate Islamic inheritance shares (faraid) based on Hanafi jurisprudence. Enter your family structure below to see how an estate would be distributed.
Inheritance Calculator
Enter your family details and click Calculate to see the inheritance distribution.
How Islamic Inheritance Works
Islamic inheritance law prescribes specific shares for family members, ensuring fair distribution according to Quranic guidance.
Fixed Shares (Fard)
The Quran prescribes specific fractional shares for certain heirs — spouses, parents, and daughters. These prescribed portions are calculated first before any residual distribution.
Residuary Heirs (Asaba)
After fixed shares are distributed, the remainder goes to residuary heirs — typically sons and male relatives. If no residuary heirs exist, fixed-share heirs may receive increased portions.
The Role of Wasiyyah
Islamic guidance allows an optional bequest (wasiyyah) of up to one-third of the estate for charitable causes or non-heir beneficiaries, distributed before faraid shares are calculated.
Important Notes
- •This calculator is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or religious advice.
- •Calculations follow the Hanafi school of jurisprudence. Other schools may yield different results.
- •Complex family structures (e.g., grandchildren through sons, multiple marriages) may require consultation with a qualified Islamic scholar.
- •Shares shown are fractional only. Actual distribution depends on total estate value after debts, funeral expenses, and any wasiyyah.
How Islamic Inheritance Works
The Quran outlines a detailed system for distributing a person’s estate among their family members. The primary verses appear in Surah An-Nisa (4:11-12 and 4:176), where specific fractional shares are assigned to close relatives including spouses, parents, children, and siblings. These Islamic inheritance rules (also called faraid) are designed to ensure that every close family member receives their rightful portion of the estate.
The inheritance calculation begins only after all outstanding debts have been settled and any voluntary charitable bequest (wasiyyah) has been fulfilled. A wasiyyah allows a person to direct up to one-third of their estate toward charitable causes or non-heir beneficiaries before the prescribed shares are calculated. The remaining estate is then divided among the heirs according to their fixed shares and residuary positions.
For married couples, it is important to understand that the calculation runs separately for each spouse’s estate. When one spouse passes away, the surviving spouse becomes an heir to the deceased spouse’s portion of the estate — and the math is different depending on which spouse passes first and what the family structure looks like.
How Islamic Inheritance Works — An Example
Islamic inheritance assigns specific shares to close family members based on who survives the deceased. Here is a common example to show how the shares are calculated.
The scenario: Ahmad passes away. He is survived by his wife Fatima, their two daughters Layla and Mariam, and Ahmad’s father Ibrahim.
| Heir | Relationship | Share | How it’s determined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fatima | Wife | 1/8 (12.5%) | Fixed share — wife receives 1/8 when the deceased has children |
| Layla | Daughter | 1/3 (33.3%) | Fixed share — two or more daughters share 2/3 equally |
| Mariam | Daughter | 1/3 (33.3%) | Fixed share — two or more daughters share 2/3 equally |
| Ibrahim | Father | 5/24 (20.8%) | Residual heir — father receives 1/6 as a fixed share plus the remainder as a residual heir when there are no sons |
Fatima receives her fixed share of 1/8. Layla and Mariam together receive 2/3 of the estate, split equally between them. Ibrahim receives 1/6 as his fixed share, plus the leftover residual — in this case the remaining 1/24 — bringing his total to 5/24. All shares together account for the entire estate.
Every family is different — the shares change depending on who survives the deceased. For example, if Ahmad also had a son, the daughters’ fixed 2/3 share would not apply — instead all children would inherit as residual heirs with sons receiving twice the share of daughters. Use the calculator above to see the exact shares for your family’s situation.
How This Calculator Is Different
This calculator has been validated against 134 scholarly test cases to ensure accuracy across a wide range of family structures. Unlike many online tools that only calculate shares for one person, this calculator runs the math for both spouses’ estates simultaneously — because when one spouse passes, the surviving spouse is an heir and the resulting shares are different for each estate.
Results are displayed visually with charts so you can see the distribution at a glance, not just as abstract fractions. The calculator was built by a California estate planning attorney who understands both Islamic inheritance principles and U.S. estate planning law. When the calculator encounters a complex family structure — such as cases involving extended relatives — it flags the scenario rather than giving a potentially incorrect answer, because accuracy matters more than coverage.
What to Do After You Calculate
Knowing your inheritance shares is an important first step, but the calculation alone does not protect your family. In the United States, courts apply state law by default — not Islamic inheritance rules. If a Muslim dies without a trust or will in California, the estate is distributed according to California’s intestacy laws, which typically conflict with faraid.
To make Islamic inheritance legally enforceable, you need a properly drafted revocable living trust that specifies these distributions. In California, community property rules add another layer of complexity that must be accounted for in the trust document. Our service generates all the legal documents needed to make your Islamic inheritance plan enforceable — create your estate plan today and turn these shares into a legally valid California trust.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is inheritance divided in Islam?
Islamic inheritance follows rules from the Quran (Surah An-Nisa 4:11-12). Specific family members receive fixed shares: a wife receives 1/8 of her husband’s estate if they have children (1/4 if no children), parents each receive 1/6 if there are children, and the remainder goes to sons and daughters with sons receiving twice the share of daughters. These shares are calculated after any debts and charitable bequests (wasiyyah) up to one-third of the estate.
What is a wife’s share in Islamic inheritance?
A wife inherits 1/8 (12.5%) of her husband’s estate if they have children together. If there are no children, her share increases to 1/4 (25%). These are fixed shares prescribed in the Quran and cannot be reduced by other heirs.
Can you change Islamic inheritance shares?
The fixed inheritance shares prescribed in the Quran cannot be changed. However, a person may make a charitable bequest (wasiyyah) of up to one-third of their estate to non-heirs, such as charities or friends, before the inheritance shares are calculated. The remaining two-thirds must be distributed according to the prescribed shares.
Is Islamic inheritance legally enforceable in the United States?
U.S. courts do not automatically apply Islamic inheritance rules. However, you can make Islamic inheritance legally enforceable by creating a revocable living trust or will that specifies the Islamic distribution. In California, a properly drafted trust allows you to distribute your estate according to Islamic principles while remaining fully compliant with state law.
What happens if a Muslim dies without a will in California?
If a Muslim dies without a will or trust in California, the estate is distributed according to California’s intestacy laws — not Islamic inheritance rules. This typically means the surviving spouse receives all community property and a share of separate property. Children split the remainder equally regardless of gender. This usually conflicts with Islamic inheritance requirements, which is why having a proper estate plan is essential.
What is the difference between wasiyyah and inheritance shares?
Wasiyyah is a voluntary charitable bequest of up to one-third of your estate that you can direct to non-heirs such as charities, friends, or causes you care about. Inheritance shares (the fixed portions from the Quran) apply to the remaining estate after the wasiyyah is fulfilled. You cannot use wasiyyah to give additional amounts to someone who already inherits under the fixed shares.
Ready to Create Your Islamic Estate Plan?
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