Not sure how to distrbute the wealth of a decease according to the Islamic Inheritance rules and laws? Don’t worry.
Simply enter all your details in our advanced Islamic Inheritance Calculator and it will tell the the exact percentage shares of all eligible heirs according to the rules laid out in the Holy Quran.
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Important: Wirasat (Islamic Inheritance) is a sensitive subject. So, use the this tool for your initial calculation but do consult a qualified Islamic scholar before the final distribution.
What Is Islamic Inheritance/Wirasat?
Wirasat comes from the Arabic root “waritha,” meaning “to inherit.” In Islam, it refers to the precise way Allah laid down for dividing a person’s wealth after death.
Before Islam, tribes fought bloody battles over estates because no fair system existed.
The Prophet ﷺ brought a clear, divine framework: each heir—spouse, parents, children, and others—receives a fixed share spelled out in the Qur’an.
This system stops arguments before they start, settles differences swiftly, and protects family harmony for generations.
By following these rules exactly, we honor our loved one’s rights, uphold justice, and keep wealth flowing in a balanced way that avoids long-term conflicts.
Islamic Inheritance Distribution Rules | Where Did This Law Come From?
Islamic inheritance rules rest on one unchanging principle: they come straight from the Qur’an, Allah’s own words.
No person or council has the authority to alter even a single word.
We accept these rules exactly as they appear, verse by verse, in order to honor the Divine wisdom and to protect the rights of every heir.
Where These Rules Come From
Within the Qur’an you find clear, precise instructions on who inherits and in what share. Fourteen different verses—scattered across three chapters—spell out each heir’s portion.
Because these injunctions carry the weight of divine command, scholars refrain from adding or subtracting a single fraction.
That guarantees fairness and certainty in every Muslim community.
Note: According to Islamic Law, a person can make a Wasiyat (Islamic Will) within 1/3 of their wealth for non-heirs. Use our Wasiyat Generator to create your Will
Who Inherits and How Their Shares Are Fixed
Here’s exactly how much inheritance share each heir gets according to Islam.
- Spouse
- Husband: If a wife dies without children, her husband takes ½ of her estate. If she leaves behind children, he takes ¼.
- Wife (or wives): If a husband dies without children, each wife shares ¼ of his estate. If he leaves children, all wives together share just ⅛.
Fixed share: a predetermined fraction set by Allah—no more, no less. - Parents
- Each parent normally receives ⅙ of the estate when the deceased has any children or a surviving spouse.
- If no children or close male relatives (“asaba,” explained below) exist, the mother’s portion rises to ⅓.
Why? Allah honored parents with a special share but balanced it so that the estate can also provide for descendants and other next-of-kin. - Children
- After all fixed shares are set aside, what remains goes to the children.
- Each son receives twice the share of each daughter. That 2-to-1 ratio reflects the financial obligations a man bears in traditional Islamic law.
“Asaba” simply means those who inherit what remains after the fixed shares. - Male Agnates (“Asaba”)
- These are brothers, then if there are no brothers, nephews (sons of brothers).
- They step in only if no direct descendants (sons or daughters) exist, or they take whatever is left over after children and parents.
How We Handle Missing Heirs
Islamic inheritance follows a clear tiered sequence:
- Tier 1—Spouse: If no spouse survives, skip this tier.
- Tier 2—Parents: If neither parent survives, move on.
- Tier 3—Children: If no children exist, these fixed-share steps close out and the estate moves to…
- Tier 4—Male Agnates (“Asaba”): Brothers or nephews inherit whatever remains.
Whenever a given heir is missing—say, no surviving sons—Allah’s fixed shares simply “collapse” around that gap.
We do not invent new heirs or reshuffle shares except as the Qur’an itself allows (for example, raising the mother’s share from ⅙ to ⅓ when no children or asaba stand between her and the estate).
By following these rules exactly as prescribed, we honor Allah’s perfect justice, prevent family conflicts over money, and ensure that every heir—no matter how distant—receives the share that Allah intended for them.
The Complete Islamic Inheritance/Wirasat Chart
The Complete Islamic Inheritance / Wirasat Chart
Below you’ll find every possible heir and their Qur’anic share, laid out in one clear chart. Use this as your quick reference before you work through the steps of any real calculation.
| Heir Category | When Present | Fixed Share |
|---|---|---|
| Spouse | ||
| – Husband | No children | ½ of estate |
| With any children | ¼ of estate | |
| – Wife (all wives combined) | No children | ¼ of estate |
| With any children | ⅛ of estate | |
| Parents | ||
| – Father | If any children or surviving spouse | ⅙ of estate |
| – Mother | If any children or surviving spouse | ⅙ of estate |
| No children and no male agnates (“asaba”) | ⅓ of estate | |
| Children | Remainder (after fixed shares) | |
| – Sons | Always | Twice each daughter’s share |
| – Daughters | Always | Half of each son’s share |
| Male Agnates (“Asaba”) | If no children survive —or after everyone else’s share | |
| – Full Brothers | When any brothers survive | All remaining estate, divided equally |
| – Nephews (sons of brothers) | Brothers absent, nephews present | All remaining estate, divided equally |
How to Read This Chart
- Fixed Shares First: Spouse and parents each take their exact portion from the top.
- Children Next: Whatever remains after fixed shares goes to the children in a 2 : 1 ratio (sons : daughters).
- Male Agnates Last: If no children, the leftover goes to brothers; if no brothers, to nephews.
By following this chart step by step, you guarantee that every heir receives exactly what the Qur’an prescribes—and nothing more, nothing less.
How Accurate Is This Wirasat Calculator And To Use It
This calculator follows the exact shares that Allah SWT prescribed in the Qur’an and the proven rulings of our righteous scholars.
We built it to mirror every step you would take if you sat down with an expert mufti. When you enter your family details, it applies the same ratios and tiers that guided generations of believers.
Qualfiied scholars have checked and verified this calculator for basic inheritance caluclation.
Why You Can Trust It
- Qur’anic Precision: It assigns each spouse, parent, child, and male agnate (asaba) exactly the fraction revealed in the Book of Allah.
- Classical Fiqh Rules: It respects the order of heirs—spouse first, parents next, children in a 2:1 ratio, then brothers or nephews if no direct offspring survive.
- Dynamic Logic: It shows only the questions you need, then recalculates instantly as you change any answer.
How to Get Perfect Results
- Gather Your Information
- List every living heir: spouses, father, mother, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, nephews.
- Confirm only those who truly survive the deceased at their time of passing.
- Step Through the Form
- Answer each question honestly. If the deceased was male, enter wife count; if female, indicate whether her husband survives.
- Tell us how many sons and daughters remain, and then whether any living brothers or sisters exist.
- Review and Adjust
- Watch the share breakdown appear immediately.
- If you spot an error, change the number and watch the shares update.
- Consult Your Scholar
- For complex estates (existing wills over 1/3, joint property, charitable trusts), show this print-out to your local mufti.
- Use this tool as your faithful guide, then finalize under qualified scholarly advice.
By following these steps, you honor Allah’s clear command. You avoid disputes among your family, secure everyone’s rights, and bring Barakah to your inheritance process.