Islamic Inheritance Shares for Husband, Grandson and Two Granddaughters

Prescribed sharers (Al Faraid)

Understanding Prescribed Sharers in Islamic Inheritance

Prescribed sharers in Islamic inheritance are individuals who are designated by Islamic law to receive fixed shares of the deceased’s estate. These shares are determined based on specific relationships and are aimed at ensuring equitable distribution of assets among heirs. Explore the rules and principles governing prescribed sharers in Islamic inheritance.

The Role of Prescribed Sharers in Islamic Inheritance

Prescribed sharers play a crucial role in the inheritance distribution system outlined in the Quran. Learn about the hierarchy of prescribed sharers, including spouses, children, parents, siblings, and more. Discover how these individuals are entitled to inherit specific portions of the estate and the significance of this system in Islamic law.

Husband’s Share in Islamic Inheritance Law

The husband holds a distinct position as a prescribed sharer in Islamic inheritance. According to the Quranic verse [Surah AnNisa 4:12], a husband’s share of the deceased wife’s estate depends on whether the deceased has offspring or not. Explore the wisdom behind these provisions, which aim to protect the financial interests of the surviving husband. Here are the key scenarios:

Husband’s Share when the Deceased Wife Has No Offspring

If the deceased wife does not have any children or offspring, the husband is entitled to one-half (1/2) of her estate. This means he receives 50% of her assets after any outstanding debts and expenses are settled.

Husband’s Share when the Deceased Wife Has Offspring

When the deceased wife has children or offspring, the husband’s share is one-fourth (1/4) of her estate, which is 25% of her assets. The remaining estate is distributed among the children according to the Islamic inheritance rules.

Concluded Share of the Husband:

In this scenario, the deceased wife has offspring (children or descendants), so, the husband is entitled to receive one-fourth (1/4) of the total estate.
Husband’s Share = 25% of the estate

Residual Sharers

In Islamic inheritance law, the concept of residual sharers plays a crucial role in ensuring the equitable distribution of an estate among heirs. Residual sharers are those individuals who inherit from what remains of the deceased’s estate after the primary sharers have received their designated shares.

Residual sharers are typically close relatives, such as male offspring, male ancestors, and male siblings, who become entitled to inherit after the primary sharers, like spouses, children, and parents, have received their allotted portions. Their role is vital in ensuring that the remaining assets are distributed fairly and following Islamic principles. The order of residual sharers is defined under Rule #13 & Rule #14.

Granddaughter’s Share in Islamic Inheritance Law

In Islamic inheritance law, the share of a granddaughter (from a son only) is determined by several factors, including the presence or absence of sons and daughters, as well as the number of grandsons and granddaughters from a son. The granddaughter’s share is calculated based on the specific circumstances of the deceased. Here are the different scenarios and the corresponding shares:

The granddaughter will receive 1/2 if all the following conditions are met

1. The deceased has only 1 granddaughter from a son, AND
2. The deceased does not have a son, AND
3. The deceased does not have a daughter, AND
4. The deceased does not have a grandson from a son

In this case, the deceased has only one granddaughter from a son and no sons & daughters, and no grandsons from a son, the granddaughter is entitled to receive half (1/2) of the total estate. This means the granddaughter’s share is 50% of the estate.

Granddaughters will receive 2/3 if all the following conditions are met

1. The deceased has multiple granddaughters from a son, AND
2. The deceased does not have a son, AND
3. The deceased does not have a daughter, AND
4. The deceased does not have a grandson from a son

If the deceased has multiple granddaughters from a son and no sons & daughters, and no grandsons from a son then in this case, granddaughters are entitled to receive two-thirds (2/3) of the total estate. This means the granddaughter’s share is 66.67% of the estate which will be divided equally among all granddaughters.

Granddaughters will receive 1/6 if all the following conditions are met

1. The deceased has one or multiple granddaughters from a son, AND
2. The deceased has just one daughter, AND
3. The deceased does not have a son, AND
4. The deceased does not have a grandson from a son

If the deceased has just one daughter, no sons, and no grandsons from a son, in this case, granddaughters (from the son only) are entitled to receive one-sixth (1/6) of the total estate. This means the granddaughter’s share is approximately 16.67% of the estate which will be divided equally among all granddaughters.

Granddaughters will receive Residual Shares if all the following conditions are met

1. The deceased has granddaughters & grandsons from a son, AND
2. The deceased does not have a daughter, AND
3. The deceased does not have a son

When there are surviving grandsons, the granddaughter would be the residual sharer and not the prescribed sharer. In this case, the granddaughter would get half (1/2) of what the grandson receives. In other words, granddaughters get half the share of their brothers. This is based on the principle of the Quranic verse [Surah AnNisa 4:11].

For example, if there is one granddaughter and one grandson, the granddaughter would receive one-third (1/3) of the inheritance, while the grandson would receive double, which is two-thirds (2/3) of the inheritance.