Simplified for common cases only. Real estates may involve grandparents, siblings, debts and bequests – consult a qualified scholar/mufti before final distribution.
Distributing a deceased person’s estate under Islamic law (Shariah) follows precise Quranic shares — the science of ilm-ul-faraiz. Every heir’s fraction is fixed by their relationship to the deceased: spouses, parents, sons, daughters, and others each have defined portions. But real families have wrinkles — debts, wills, missing heirs, and the famous complexities (like ‘awl and radd) that need a scholar. Our free Islamic inheritance calculator distributes a standard simple estate among the primary heirs by their Quranic shares — and tells you clearly when your case needs a mufti.
The Core Quranic Shares (Surah An-Nisa)
- Wife: 1/8 if there are children, 1/4 if none
- Husband: 1/4 if there are children, 1/2 if none
- Father: 1/6 (plus residue in some cases)
- Mother: 1/6 if children exist, 1/3 if not
- Sons and daughters: residue shared in the ratio 2:1 (son:daughter)
- Debts and bequests (up to 1/3 of the estate) are settled BEFORE any distribution
Order of settlement: (1) funeral expenses, (2) debts, (3) bequests up to one-third, (4) heirs’ shares.
How to Use
- Enter the total estate value (after debts — or list debts separately).
- Enter the heirs: spouse, father, mother, number of sons and daughters.
- Click Calculate — each heir’s share in rupees appears with their fraction.
- For anything beyond this standard case (grandparents, siblings, missing heirs, disputed debts, non-Muslim family members), consult a qualified mufti and a lawyer.
Worked Example
Estate Rs 12,000,000 after debts. Heirs: wife, father, mother, 2 sons, 1 daughter. Wife = 1/8 = Rs 1,500,000. Father = 1/6 = Rs 2,000,000. Mother = 1/6 = Rs 2,000,000. Remainder = 12,000,000 − 5,500,000 = Rs 6,500,000 split 2:2:1 (son:son:daughter) → each son Rs 2,600,000, daughter Rs 1,300,000. Total = Rs 12,000,000 ✓.
Please Read — Scholar Disclaimer
This calculator handles the standard primary-heirs case only. Real inheritance involves specialist rules — ‘awl (proportional reduction when shares exceed 100%), radd (redistribution when shares fall short), grandparents’ shares, siblings’ positions, the special case of a pregnant widow, and more. Always verify the final distribution with a qualified Islamic scholar and, for legal transfer of property in Pakistan, with a lawyer (succession certificates, NADRA processes, and provincial land records have their own procedures).
FAQs
Which Surah covers inheritance?
Surah An-Nisa (4:11–12, 4:176) gives the fixed shares; the rest of ilm-ul-faraiz was developed by classical jurists from these verses and hadith.
What is paid before heirs get anything?
Funeral expenses, then debts, then bequests (up to one-third of the estate) — heirs divide what remains.
Can a will override the Quranic shares?
No — a bequest (wasiyyat) is limited to one-third and generally can’t favour an existing heir beyond their share without other heirs’ consent.
Do daughters really get half of sons?
The 2:1 ratio applies to the residue shared between sons and daughters — but the full picture includes fixed shares for mothers, wives, and others, plus the Islamic principle that men bear the family’s financial maintenance obligations.
What about property in different cities or bank accounts?
All assets of the deceased — property, bank balances, vehicles, business shares — form one estate for distribution purposes.
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