This free Islamic inheritance calculator applies Hanafi rules to show each heir’s share of an estate. Enter the estate value, any debts, funeral costs and bequest (wasiyyah), then select the surviving relatives. The calculator applies the fixed Quranic shares (Surah An-Nisa 4:11, 12, 176) and the residuary rules of the Hanafi school, including ‘awl and radd. It shows each heir’s fraction and amount.
Deceased and surviving heirs
How to use the Islamic Inheritance Calculator
- Enter the total estate value, funeral expenses, debts (including unpaid mehr) and any wasiyyah.
- Choose whether the deceased was a man or a woman.
- Enter the surviving heirs: spouse, sons, daughters, father, mother, and full brothers and sisters.
- Press Calculate shares to see each heir’s fraction and amount.
The Islamic inheritance calculator covers the common heirs. Cases with grandchildren, half-siblings or missing heirs should be confirmed with a qualified mufti. For the history and principles of mirath, see Wikipedia’s Islamic inheritance jurisprudence article.
Fixed Quranic shares used
| Heir | Share | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Husband | 1/2 · 1/4 | 1/4 if the deceased had children |
| Wife / wives (shared) | 1/4 · 1/8 | 1/8 if the deceased had children |
| Daughter (no son) | 1/2 · 2/3 | 2/3 shared if two or more |
| Son(s) with daughter(s) | Residue | Son gets twice a daughter’s share |
| Father | 1/6 · residue | 1/6 with a son; 1/6 + residue with only daughters; residue if no children |
| Mother | 1/6 · 1/3 | 1/6 if there are children or 2+ siblings; otherwise 1/3 |
| Full sister(s) | 1/2 · 2/3 · residue | Excluded by a son or the father; residuary with brothers or daughters |
‘Awl and radd
- ‘Awl (increase): if the fixed shares add up to more than the whole estate, each share is reduced proportionally. Example: husband 1/2 + two sisters 2/3 = 7/6, so they receive 3/7 and 4/7.
- Radd (return): if fixed shares leave a remainder and there is no residuary heir, the remainder goes back to the fixed-share heirs (except the spouse, in the Hanafi school) in proportion. Example: mother 1/6 + daughter 1/2 becomes mother 1/4, daughter 3/4.
What this calculator does not cover
It handles the most common immediate family. It does not cover grandparents, grandchildren, paternal or maternal half-siblings, uncles, cousins, multiple generations, a missing person, a pregnancy, or madhhab differences beyond the Hanafi position. Those cases need a qualified mufti or an Islamic inheritance specialist. In Pakistan, succession for Muslims follows Muslim personal law (the Hanafi school for most Sunnis). Section 4 of the Muslim Family Laws Ordinance lets orphaned grandchildren inherit their predeceased parent’s share, which this tool does not model.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a wife get in Islamic inheritance?
A wife receives 1/8 of the estate if her husband had children, and 1/4 if he had none. Multiple wives share that 1/8 or 1/4 equally.
Why does a son get twice the share of a daughter?
The Quran (4:11) sets the son’s share as double the daughter’s. Classical scholars link this to the man’s financial obligations: supporting the family and paying mehr. The daughter’s share is hers alone, with no obligation to spend it on others.
Do brothers and sisters inherit if there is a son?
No. In all four Sunni schools, full siblings are excluded by a son (or son’s son) and by the father.
What must be paid before the estate is divided?
First funeral expenses, then all debts (including any unpaid mehr to the wife), then any valid bequest up to one-third of the remainder to non-heirs. The balance is shared among the heirs.
How do you calculate Islamic inheritance?
First pay funeral costs, then debts, then the wasiyyah (up to one third of what remains, and not to a Quranic heir). Next give the fixed Quranic shares, such as 1/8 to a wife when there are children. What is left goes to the residuary heirs, for example sons and daughters in a 2:1 ratio.
What are the Hanafi inheritance shares for a spouse and parents?
Wife: 1/8 with children, 1/4 without (shared between wives). Husband: 1/4 with children, 1/2 without. Father: 1/6 when there is a son. Mother: 1/6 with children or two or more siblings, otherwise 1/3 (of the remainder when only a spouse and both parents survive).
Related tools
Educational tool based on the Hanafi school for common family situations. Inheritance cases can be complex and involve legal procedures (such as succession certificates in Pakistan). Consult a qualified scholar and a lawyer before distributing an estate.