Scholarly source index

Quran 4:11

“Allah commands you regarding your children: the share of the male will be twice that of the female. If you leave only two ˹or more˺ females, their share is two-thirds of the estate. But if there is only one female, her share will be one-half. Each parent is entitled to one-sixth if you leave offspring. But if you are childless and your parents are the only heirs, then your mother will receive one-third. But if you leave siblings, then your mother will receive one-sixth—after the fulfilment of bequests and debts. ˹Be fair to˺ your parents and children, as you do not ˹fully˺ know who is more beneficial to you. ˹This is˺ an obligation from Allah. Surely Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.” - Qur'an 4:11, The Clear Quran (Dr. Mustafa Khattab), as on quran.com

Used for: Sons and daughters (2:1), one daughter 1/2, two or more daughters 2/3, parents 1/6 each with a child, mother 1/3 or 1/6.

Quran 4:12

“You will inherit half of what your wives leave if they are childless. But if they have children, then ˹your share is˺ one-fourth of the estate—after the fulfilment of bequests and debts. And your wives will inherit one-fourth of what you leave if you are childless. But if you have children, then your wives will receive one-eighth of your estate—after the fulfilment of bequests and debts. And if a man or a woman leaves neither parents nor children but only a brother or a sister ˹from their mother’s side˺, they will each inherit one-sixth, but if they are more than one, they ˹all˺ will share one-third of the estate—after the fulfilment of bequests and debts without harm ˹to the heirs˺. ˹This is˺ a commandment from Allah. And Allah is All-Knowing, Most Forbearing.” - Qur'an 4:12, The Clear Quran (Dr. Mustafa Khattab), as on quran.com

Used for: Husband 1/2 or 1/4, wife 1/4 or 1/8, maternal siblings 1/6 alone or 1/3 shared; debts and bequests first.

Quran 4:176

“They ask you ˹for a ruling, O Prophet˺. Say, “Allah gives you a ruling regarding those who die without children or parents.” If a man dies childless and leaves behind a sister, she will inherit one-half of his estate, whereas her brother will inherit all of her estate if she dies childless. If this person leaves behind two sisters, they together will inherit two-thirds of the estate. But if the deceased leaves male and female siblings, a male’s share will be equal to that of two females. Allah makes ˹this˺ clear to you so you do not go astray. And Allah has ˹perfect˺ knowledge of all things.” - Qur'an 4:176, The Clear Quran (Dr. Mustafa Khattab), as on quran.com

Used for: Full and paternal sisters 1/2 or 2/3; with brothers they take as residuaries at 2:1.

Quran 4:7–8

“For men there is a share in what their parents and close relatives leave, and for women there is a share in what their parents and close relatives leave—whether it is little or much. ˹These are˺ obligatory shares.” - Qur'an 4:7, The Clear Quran (Dr. Mustafa Khattab), as on quran.com “If ˹non-inheriting˺ relatives, orphans, or the needy are present at the time of distribution, offer them a ˹small˺ provision from it and speak to them kindly.” - Qur'an 4:8, The Clear Quran (Dr. Mustafa Khattab), as on quran.com

Used for: Women's inheritance is a right; cited by Hanafis for distant kindred (dhawu'l-arham).

Sahih al-Bukhari 6732 (Kitab al-Fara'id); Sahih Muslim 1615 (Kitab al-Fara'id)

“Give the Fara'id (the shares of the inheritance that are prescribed in the Qur'an) to those who are entitled to receive it. Then whatever remains, should be given to the closest male relative of the deceased .” - Sahih al-Bukhari 6732 (wording quoted); Sahih Muslim 1615, sunnah.com English translation

Used for: Residuary heirs ('asabah) and blocking (hajb) by nearness.

Sahih al-Bukhari 2742 (Kitab al-Wasaya); Sahih Muslim 1628 (Kitab al-Wasaya)

“Yes, one third, yet even one third is too much.” - Sahih al-Bukhari 2742 (wording quoted); Sahih Muslim 1628, sunnah.com English translation

Used for: Bequests (wasiyyah) capped at one third after debts.

Sunan Abi Dawud 2870 (Kitab al-Wasaya); Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2120 (Kitab al-Wasaya)

“Allah has appointed for everyone who has a right what is due to him, and no bequest must be made to an heir.” - Sunan Abi Dawud 2870 (wording quoted); Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2120, sunnah.com English translation

Used for: No bequest to an heir without the other heirs' consent. Note: while individual chains of this narration were scrutinized by hadith critics, the ruling itself is settled by scholarly consensus (ijma') and universal acceptance (talaqqi bi-l-qabul) across all four schools.

Sahih al-Bukhari 6764 (Kitab al-Fara'id); Sahih Muslim 1614 (Kitab al-Fara'id)

“A Muslim cannot be the heir of a disbeliever, nor can a disbeliever be the heir of a Muslim.” - Sahih al-Bukhari 6764 (wording quoted); Sahih Muslim 1614, sunnah.com English translation

Used for: Non-Muslim relatives receive no fixed share; a bequest within one third remains possible.

Sunan Abi Dawud 2894 (Kitab al-Fara'id); Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2100 (Kitab al-Fara'id)

Al-Mughira, testifying before Abu Bakr (confirmed by Muhammad ibn Maslama): “I had been present with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) when he gave grandmother a sixth.” - Sunan Abi Dawud 2894 (wording quoted); Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2100, sunnah.com English translation. Later, 'Umar: “I am not going to add in the shares of inheritance; but it is that sixth. If there are two of you, it is shared between you, but whichever of you is the only one left gets it all.” - Sunan Abi Dawud 2894 (wording quoted); Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2100, sunnah.com English translation

Grade: Da'if (Al-Albani)

Used for: Grandmothers' 1/6, shared equally between two.

'Umar ibn al-Khattab — 'awl

Faced with a husband and two sisters whose shares exceeded the estate, 'Umar reduced all shares proportionally.

Used for: 'Awl: scale every share down when the total exceeds one.

'Umar — the 'Umariyyatan

With a spouse and both parents, the mother takes one third of what remains after the spouse.

Used for: Mother's share in the two 'Umariyyatan cases.

Zayd ibn Thabit — grandfather and siblings

The grandfather shares with siblings (muqasama) or takes the better of set alternatives.

Used for: Majority treatment of grandfather with siblings; Hanafis let him block them.

Hanafi

al-Sirajiyyah (Siraj al-Din al-Sajawandi); al-Hidayah (al-Marghinani)

Used for: Radd, distant kindred, grandfather blocks siblings.

Maliki

al-Muwatta (Imam Malik); al-Mudawwanah; Mukhtasar Khalil

Used for: 'Umariyyatan, grandfather's muqasama, treasury.

Shafi'i

al-Umm (al-Shafi'i); Minhaj al-Talibin (al-Nawawi)

Used for: Radd in later Shafi'i practice, 'awl, shares.

Hanbali

al-Mughni (Ibn Qudamah); al-Rawd al-Murbi'

Used for: Comparative positions; paternal grandmother with father.