A question families ask
Who inherits in Islam?
After the funeral costs, the debts and any bequest of up to a third to people who are not heirs, the rest of the estate goes to the heirs by the fixed shares of Sūrat al-Nisāʾ. The closest heirs are the spouse, the children and the parents; brothers and sisters, and other relatives, inherit in some families. The calculator shows each heir’s share for your family, with the evidence for every rule.
In more detail
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The order
Four rights attach to the estate in order: the funeral and burial, the debts, bequests from a third of what remains, then the heirs.
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Husband and wife
A husband has half of what his wife leaves if she has no child, and a quarter if she has one. A wife has a quarter if her husband leaves no child, and an eighth if he leaves one.
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Children and parents
For a son, the share of two daughters. If there are only daughters, two or more share two thirds; one daughter has half. Each parent has a sixth if there are children.
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Brothers and sisters
If a man dies leaving no child, a sister has half, and two sisters or more have two thirds; with brothers, the male has the share of two females.
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What remains
Give the fixed shares to those entitled to them; whatever remains goes to the nearest male relative.
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No bequest for an heir
A bequest is limited to a third, and an heir cannot receive one. A Muslim does not inherit from a non-Muslim, nor a non-Muslim from a Muslim.
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 2742 · Sunan Abī Dāwūd 2870 (ḥasan ṣaḥīḥ) · Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6764
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Each point gives the sources it rests on. Not a fatwā and not legal advice. · Sources · Something wrong? Tell us