Islamic Inheritance Calculator (Faraid)

Q: What is Faraid and how does this calculator implement it?

Faraid is the Islamic system of inheritance law derived from the Quran (primarily Surah An-Nisa, verses 11-12 and 176) and the Hadith. It prescribes fixed shares (Fard) for specific heirs such as spouses, parents, and daughters, with remaining estate distributed to residuary heirs (Asaba) such as sons and brothers. This calculator implements the standard Sunni methodology including blocking rules, Awl (proportional reduction), and Radd (surplus redistribution).

Q: What is the one-third rule for Wasiyyah?

In Islamic law, a person may leave a bequest (wasiyyah) of up to one-third of their estate to non-heirs — such as charities, friends, or distant relatives who are not Faraid heirs. The remaining two-thirds or more must be distributed according to the Faraid rules. If someone specifies a wasiyyah exceeding one-third, this calculator shows a warning. The wasiyyah is deducted after debts and funeral expenses but before inheritance calculation begins.

Q: Why do sons inherit twice the share of daughters?

This 2:1 ratio is explicitly stated in the Quran (4:11). Islamic scholars explain this in the context of the broader financial obligations placed on men in Islamic law: men are required to provide for their wives, children, and in some cases parents and sisters, while women are not obligated to spend their inheritance on anyone. The daughter's share is entirely hers to keep, whereas the son's share comes with financial responsibilities to dependents.

Q: What happens when total fixed shares exceed the estate?

This situation is handled by a principle called Awl (proportional reduction). When the sum of all fixed shares exceeds 100% of the estate, every fixed share is proportionally reduced so they fit within the available estate. For example, if total fixed shares add up to 9/6 of the estate, the denominator is increased from 6 to 9, and each heir receives their numerator over 9 instead of over 6. This maintains the relative proportions while ensuring no heir receives more than the estate contains.

Q: Does this calculator handle all four Sunni madhabs?

This calculator implements the majority Sunni rules that are shared across the four major schools of jurisprudence (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, and Hanbali). Most basic inheritance scenarios produce identical results across all four madhabs. However, there are edge cases where the schools differ, such as the grandfather-with-siblings problem and certain combinations involving distant relatives. For complex or disputed scenarios, always consult a qualified Islamic scholar familiar with your specific madhab.

Calculate Islamic inheritance shares according to Sunni Faraid rules. Deduct debts, funeral costs, and wasiyyah. See each heir's share with a visual pie chart. Free. No sign-up.

Estate Details

Currency

Total Estate Value

Debts

Funeral Expenses

Wasiyyah (Bequest)

Net Distributable Estate£100,000.00

Deceased Information

Gender of Deceased

Marital Status

Surviving Heirs

Wife / Wives

Father

Mother

Grandfather

Grandmother

Sons

Daughters

Brothers

Sisters

Inheritance Distribution

Wife100.00%

Heir	Count	Share	%	Total	Per Person
Wife	1	1/4	25.00%	£25,000.00	£25,000.00
Total Distributed			25.00%	£25,000.00

Disclaimer: This calculator is for educational and informational purposes only. Islamic inheritance law is complex and may vary by school of jurisprudence (madhab). Please consult a qualified Islamic scholar or a specialist Islamic estate lawyer for actual inheritance distribution.

Understanding Islamic Inheritance (Faraid)

Faraid is the Islamic law of inheritance derived from the Quran and Sunnah. It prescribes fixed shares (Fard) for specified relatives of the deceased, with remaining estate going to residuary heirs (Asaba).

Fixed Shares (Fard)

Heir	Condition	Share
Husband	With children	1/4
Husband	Without children	1/2
Wife	With children	1/8
Wife	Without children	1/4
Father	With sons	1/6
Mother	With children or 2+ siblings	1/6
Mother	Without children and <2 siblings	1/3
Daughter(s)	One daughter, no sons	1/2
Daughters	Two or more, no sons	2/3
Sister(s)	One sister, no brothers/sons/father	1/2
Sisters	Two or more, no brothers/sons/father	2/3

Key Concepts

Residuary (Asaba): After fixed shares are distributed, the remainder goes to residuary heirs in order of priority: sons, then father, then brothers. When sons and daughters inherit together as residuary heirs, each son receives twice the share of each daughter.

Blocking (Hajb): Some heirs are blocked by closer relatives. Sons block brothers and sisters. The father blocks the grandfather and also blocks brothers and sisters.

Awl (Proportional Reduction): When the total of fixed shares exceeds the estate, all shares are proportionally reduced so they fit. This ensures fairness when there are many fixed-share heirs.

Radd (Redistribution): When fixed shares do not exhaust the entire estate and there are no residuary heirs, the surplus is redistributed proportionally among fixed-share heirs (excluding the spouse).

Wasiyyah (Bequest): A Muslim may bequeath up to one-third of their estate to non-heirs via a will. The remaining two-thirds (or more) must be distributed according to Faraid rules. The wasiyyah is deducted after debts and funeral expenses but before inheritance distribution.

How it works

1
Enter estate details
Input the total estate value, outstanding debts, funeral expenses, and any wasiyyah (bequest). Choose from 7 currencies.
2
Specify surviving heirs
Select the deceased's gender and marital status, then indicate which relatives survive: parents, spouse, children, siblings, grandparents.
3
Review distribution
See each heir's Islamic share fraction, percentage, and exact amount. Blocked heirs are clearly marked with explanations.

Islamic Inheritance Law Explained

Islamic inheritance law (Ilm al-Faraid) is one of the most detailed and precisely defined areas of Islamic jurisprudence. The Quran explicitly outlines the shares of close relatives in Surah An-Nisa (Chapter 4), making it one of the few areas where divine guidance provides exact mathematical fractions. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) emphasized the importance of learning Faraid, and Islamic scholars throughout history have developed sophisticated mathematical methods to handle every possible combination of heirs.

The system operates on a hierarchy of heir types. First, debts owed by the deceased are paid from the estate, followed by funeral expenses and any valid wasiyyah (bequest limited to one-third of the remaining estate). The net estate is then distributed among heirs in two categories: those with fixed shares (Fard) and residuary heirs (Asaba). Fixed-share heirs include spouses, parents, daughters (without sons), and sisters (without brothers or sons). Residuary heirs, primarily sons and then fathers and brothers, receive whatever remains after fixed shares are allocated.

Several important rules govern the distribution. Blocking (Hajb) prevents more distant relatives from inheriting when closer relatives exist. For example, the father blocks the grandfather, and sons block brothers and sisters. The 2:1 ratio between sons and daughters applies when both are present as residuary heirs. When total fixed shares exceed the estate (which can happen with certain combinations of heirs), the principle of Awl proportionally reduces all shares. When fixed shares leave a surplus with no residuary heirs, Radd redistributes the excess proportionally among non-spouse fixed-share heirs.

This calculator implements the standard Sunni methodology shared across the four major schools of thought. It handles common scenarios including spouse shares, parental shares, children as both fixed and residuary heirs, sibling inheritance, blocking rules, Awl, and Radd. For complex or disputed scenarios, professional guidance from a qualified Islamic scholar is recommended. All calculations run entirely in your browser with no data sent to any server.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Faraid and how does this calculator implement it?+

Faraid is the Islamic system of inheritance law derived from the Quran (primarily Surah An-Nisa, verses 11-12 and 176) and the Hadith. It prescribes fixed shares (Fard) for specific heirs such as spouses, parents, and daughters, with remaining estate distributed to residuary heirs (Asaba) such as sons and brothers. This calculator implements the standard Sunni methodology including blocking rules, Awl (proportional reduction), and Radd (surplus redistribution).

What is the one-third rule for Wasiyyah?+

In Islamic law, a person may leave a bequest (wasiyyah) of up to one-third of their estate to non-heirs — such as charities, friends, or distant relatives who are not Faraid heirs. The remaining two-thirds or more must be distributed according to the Faraid rules. If someone specifies a wasiyyah exceeding one-third, this calculator shows a warning. The wasiyyah is deducted after debts and funeral expenses but before inheritance calculation begins.

Why do sons inherit twice the share of daughters?+

This 2:1 ratio is explicitly stated in the Quran (4:11). Islamic scholars explain this in the context of the broader financial obligations placed on men in Islamic law: men are required to provide for their wives, children, and in some cases parents and sisters, while women are not obligated to spend their inheritance on anyone. The daughter's share is entirely hers to keep, whereas the son's share comes with financial responsibilities to dependents.

What happens when total fixed shares exceed the estate?+

This situation is handled by a principle called Awl (proportional reduction). When the sum of all fixed shares exceeds 100% of the estate, every fixed share is proportionally reduced so they fit within the available estate. For example, if total fixed shares add up to 9/6 of the estate, the denominator is increased from 6 to 9, and each heir receives their numerator over 9 instead of over 6. This maintains the relative proportions while ensuring no heir receives more than the estate contains.

Does this calculator handle all four Sunni madhabs?+

This calculator implements the majority Sunni rules that are shared across the four major schools of jurisprudence (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, and Hanbali). Most basic inheritance scenarios produce identical results across all four madhabs. However, there are edge cases where the schools differ, such as the grandfather-with-siblings problem and certain combinations involving distant relatives. For complex or disputed scenarios, always consult a qualified Islamic scholar familiar with your specific madhab.