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Inheritance in Islam: how an estate is divided

In Islam an estate is divided after paying debts and funeral costs and carrying out the will (up to one third). The shares fixed in the Quran — a half, a quarter, an eighth, two thirds, a third and a sixth — are then given to the heirs, and the male-line relatives (the ‘asaba) take what remains. This guide explains the principles and order, and offers a simplified calculator for the most common heirs.

The order: what comes out first

  1. Reasonable funeral and burial costs.
  2. The deceased’s debts (debts to people, then obligations to God such as unpaid zakat).
  3. A will in favour of a non-heir, up to one third of what remains.
  4. Division of the remainder among the heirs according to the prescribed shares.
Quran
يُوصِيكُمُ ٱللَّهُ فِيٓ أَوۡلَٰدِكُمۡۖ لِلذَّكَرِ مِثۡلُ حَظِّ ٱلۡأُنثَيَيۡنِۚ فَإِن كُنَّ نِسَآءٗ فَوۡقَ ٱثۡنَتَيۡنِ فَلَهُنَّ ثُلُثَا مَا تَرَكَۖ وَإِن كَانَتۡ وَٰحِدَةٗ فَلَهَا ٱلنِّصۡفُۚ وَلِأَبَوَيۡهِ لِكُلِّ وَٰحِدٖ مِّنۡهُمَا ٱلسُّدُسُ مِمَّا تَرَكَ إِن كَانَ لَهُۥ وَلَدٞۚ فَإِن لَّمۡ يَكُن لَّهُۥ وَلَدٞ وَوَرِثَهُۥٓ أَبَوَاهُ فَلِأُمِّهِ ٱلثُّلُثُۚ فَإِن كَانَ لَهُۥٓ إِخۡوَةٞ فَلِأُمِّهِ ٱلسُّدُسُۚ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ وَصِيَّةٖ يُوصِي بِهَآ أَوۡ دَيۡنٍۗ ءَابَآؤُكُمۡ وَأَبۡنَآؤُكُمۡ لَا تَدۡرُونَ أَيُّهُمۡ أَقۡرَبُ لَكُمۡ نَفۡعٗاۚ فَرِيضَةٗ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمٗا

Surah An-Nisa 4:11 (opening)

The fixed shares

HeirShare
Husband1/2, or 1/4 if there are children
Wife (wives share it)1/4, or 1/8 if there are children
Mother1/6 if there are children or two or more siblings, otherwise 1/3
Father1/6 with children; with no children he takes the remainder
Daughter1/2 if alone, 2/3 for two or more; with a son, male gets twice the female share
Full sister1/2 or 2/3 if there is no child and no father; becomes a residuary heir alongside daughters

If the shares add up to more than the whole, they are reduced proportionally (known as ‘awl); if something remains and there is no residuary heir, it is returned to the fixed-share heirs other than the spouses (radd). Many other situations — grandparents, grandchildren, half-siblings — are beyond a simple calculator.

Why does the male receive double in some cases?

Scholars explain that a man is financially responsible for his wife, children and relatives, while a woman’s wealth is hers alone with no duty to spend on others. It does not apply in every case: the mother and father can receive equal shares, and maternal half-siblings share equally regardless of sex.

Try the calculator

Enter the estate, debts and the heirs present in our inheritance calculator to see the shares and amounts. It is a simplified educational tool that does not replace a judge or mufti; real estates need documents and careful review.

Frequently asked questions

Can I leave a bequest to an heir?

Most scholars say no, unless the other heirs consent, based on the Prophet’s ﷺ saying “There is no bequest for an heir.”

Can heirs agree to split equally?

All adult, competent heirs may agree among themselves to settle differently by mutual consent, but the prescribed shares are the default.

Does an adopted child inherit?

An adopted child does not inherit as a child, but may receive a bequest of up to one third.

Quran text and translations: QuranEnc. Hadith translations: HadeethEnc. Sources are shown on each item. Found a mistake? Tell us.