Islamic Inheritance Calculator -- Compute Heirs' Shares According to Sharia Law
Islamic inheritance law, known as Ilm al-Faraid (the Science of Obligatory Shares), is one of the most precisely codified systems of succession in human history. Derived directly from the Quran, the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and scholarly consensus (Ijma), it ensures that every rightful heir receives their divinely ordained portion of the deceased's estate. The Islamic Inheritance Calculator on Get-Tools provides a comprehensive, step-by-step digital tool that accurately computes each heir's share while applying the full range of jurisprudential rules including fixed shares (Furud al-Muqaddarah), residual inheritance (Asaba), exclusion (Hajb), proportional reduction (Awl), and redistribution of surplus (Radd).
Foundations of Islamic Inheritance Law
The primary source of Islamic inheritance law lies in Surah An-Nisa (Chapter 4) of the Quran, specifically verses 11, 12, and 176, which explicitly detail the shares allocated to parents, spouses, children, and siblings. The Prophet (peace be upon him) further clarified these rules through numerous Hadith, addressing cases such as the grandmother's share and the priority among residual heirs. Over fourteen centuries, Islamic scholars have developed a sophisticated body of knowledge around these verses, creating a mathematically precise system that leaves minimal room for dispute. This calculator implements the mainstream Sunni jurisprudential positions that are widely accepted across the four major schools of thought (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, and Hanbali).
How the Calculator Works
Using the calculator is straightforward and requires no prior knowledge of inheritance law. The process is divided into five intuitive steps. First, you enter the total estate value (optionally) and select the deceased's gender along with the preferred currency from over 100 supported currencies worldwide. Second, you indicate whether the deceased had a spouse or spouses. Third, you specify which parents and grandparents are still alive. Fourth, you enter the number of sons and daughters. Finally, you provide information about siblings -- full brothers, full sisters, paternal half-brothers, paternal half-sisters, and maternal half-siblings. Once you submit the data, the calculator instantly processes all information and presents a detailed results table showing each heir's name, fractional share, percentage, and monetary amount if an estate value was provided.
The Six Prescribed Shares in Islam
The Quran prescribes exactly six fixed fractional shares that specific categories of heirs may receive:
- One-half (1/2): Allocated to the husband when there are no descendants, a sole daughter with no son, or a sole full sister in the absence of a brother, father, and descendants.
- One-quarter (1/4): The husband's share when there are descendants, or the wife's (or wives') share when the deceased left no descendants.
- One-eighth (1/8): The wife's (or wives') share when the deceased left descendants.
- Two-thirds (2/3): For two or more daughters with no son, or two or more full sisters under specific conditions.
- One-third (1/3): The mother's share when there are no descendants and no group of siblings, or the collective share of two or more maternal half-siblings.
- One-sixth (1/6): The father's share alongside a son, the mother's share when there are descendants or a group of siblings, the grandmother's share, or a single maternal half-sibling's share.
Awl and Radd -- Special Redistribution Rules
Two critical mechanisms ensure fairness when the prescribed shares do not perfectly consume the estate. Awl (proportional reduction) is triggered when the total of all fixed shares exceeds the estate -- in this case, every heir's share is reduced proportionally so that the total equals the available estate. Radd (surplus redistribution) occurs when fixed shares total less than the estate and no residual heir (Asaba) exists -- the surplus is then redistributed to fixed-share heirs in proportion to their shares, with the exception of spouses. This calculator automatically detects and applies both Awl and Radd, clearly notifying you when either mechanism is in effect.
Exclusion Rules (Hajb)
Hajb refers to the rules by which certain heirs are partially or fully blocked from inheriting due to the presence of a closer relative. For example, the paternal grandfather is excluded by the father, all siblings are excluded by the father or by sons, and paternal half-siblings are excluded by full brothers. The calculator applies all standard exclusion rules automatically and displays a clear list of blocked heirs along with the reason for their exclusion, helping users understand exactly why certain relatives do not receive a share.
Residual Heirs (Asaba)
Asaba are heirs who receive whatever remains of the estate after the fixed-share holders have taken their portions. The strongest residual heir is the son, followed by the grandson, father, grandfather, full brother, and paternal half-brother in that order. In certain scenarios, female relatives become residual heirs alongside others -- for instance, full sisters inherit as Asaba alongside daughters. The tool computes the residual share automatically and labels each heir's inheritance type (fixed or Asaba) for maximum clarity.
Privacy and Security
All calculations are performed entirely within your browser using client-side JavaScript. No personal or financial data is transmitted to any server. Your information remains completely private, and nothing is stored or logged. You can use this calculator with full confidence that your data stays on your device.
Important Disclaimer
This calculator covers the most common inheritance scenarios according to mainstream Sunni jurisprudence. For exceptional or complex cases -- such as inheritance involving a missing person, an unborn child, or the Musharakah problem -- it is strongly recommended to consult a qualified Islamic scholar or certified Sharia advisor. This tool is designed for educational and assistive purposes and does not replace a formal legal or religious ruling (Fatwa).