1. Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims
  2. Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims

Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims

48 Questions

How is the Islamic inheritance divided among the wife and children after the death of the husband?
Sayyed Muhammad Husaini Ragheb

The wife will gain her dowry(Mahr) from the property because it's a debt + one 8th of the property because the dead person had children.
Then the rest of the property will be divided between the children with the formula of: "The share of boys is twice the share of girls"
وَإِن كَانُوا إِخْوَةً رِّجَالًا وَنِسَاءً فَلِلذَّكَرِ مِثْلُ حَظِّ الْأُنثَيَيْنِ
But if there be [several] brothers and sisters, then for the male shall be the like of the share of two females. (4:176)
My great grandfather in his life time allotted a bigger share of his family inheritance to one of his grandsons compared to the rest and it is causing resentment among them. Is this halal according to sharia?
Sayyed Muhammad Husaini Ragheb

He had this right to gift any of his property to anyone he wanted and it doesn't matter that he himself inherited these properties and didn't acquire them through his own endeavors
Do the inheritance rules only apply to a society where women don't work, as it seems unfair in today's world where both men and women work to give more to the sons than to the daughters?
Abbas Di Palma

The Qur'an says: "Allah prescribes for your children: for a male is equal the portion of two female" (4:11). Since the husband is obliged to spend for the maintenance of the family, his share of inheritance amounts double of that of the woman. The Qur'an also seems to indicate that such a rule is not subject to change in relation to the wife's job by saying: "These are the limits set by Allah" (4:13). A woman can decide if she wants to work, and if she does, she can spend all of her money for herself without sharing it with her husband because of the obligation of the maintenance. The husband, however, cannot abandon his duty to provide for his family. Therefore it is not unreasonable that sons receive more inheritance than daughters. Obviously a good and pious family is bound also by mutual understanding, love and cooperation, and it is up to the husband and wife to reach agreements and divide their financial support and daily tasks according to their situation.

With prayers for your success.
Do grandchildren inherit from their grandfather if their mother has already died before her father's death and she had other siblings who are alive?
Mohammed Al-Hilli

No, since the siblings are the entitled to the inheritance according to Sharia law.