The Nine Qur’anic Shares (Ashāb al-Furūḍ)
The Qur’an explicitly fixes specific fractional shares for certain heirs. These shares are
mandatory and must be distributed before any residuary (ʿAṣabah) inheritance.
1. One-Half (½)
- Husband (if deceased has no children)
- One daughter (if no son)
- One sister (under specific conditions)
“And for you is half of what your wives leave if they have no child…” (Qur’an 4:12)
“If there is only one daughter, she gets half…” (Qur’an 4:11)
“…If a man dies leaving no child but has one sister, she shall have half…” (Qur’an 4:176)
2. One-Quarter (¼)
- Husband (if deceased has children)
- Wife (if deceased has no children)
“But if you have a child, then for them is one-quarter…” (Qur’an 4:12)
3. One-Eighth (⅛)
- Wife (if deceased has children)
“But if you have a child, then for them is one-eighth of what you leave…” (Qur’an 4:12)
4. Two-Thirds (⅔)
- Two or more daughters (no sons)
- Two or more sisters (under specific conditions)
“But if there are two or more daughters, for them is two-thirds…” (Qur’an 4:11)
“If there are two sisters, they shall have two-thirds…” (Qur’an 4:176)
5. One-Third (⅓)
- Mother (if no children and no multiple siblings)
- Two or more maternal siblings (shared)
“…For his mother is one-third…” (Qur’an 4:11)
“If they are more than two, they share one-third…” (Qur’an 4:12)
6. One-Sixth (⅙)
- Father (if deceased has children)
- Mother (if deceased has children or multiple siblings)
- Single maternal sibling
“And for each parent is one-sixth if the deceased left children…” (Qur’an 4:11)
7. One-Third of the Remainder
- Mother in specific cases involving spouse and father
Established by Qur’an (4:11) and Prophetic Sunnah.
8. Equal Sharing of One-Third
- Maternal brothers and sisters jointly
“If more than one, they share one-third…” (Qur’an 4:12)
9. Residuary Shares (ʿAṣabah)
- Sons, daughters with sons, father, brothers (case-dependent)
“For the male, a share equal to that of two females…” (Qur’an 4:11)
“Give the fixed shares to those entitled, and what remains goes to the nearest male relative.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī & Muslim)
“These are the limits set by Allah.” (Qur’an 4:13–14)
Inheritance shares are divine commands and are neither negotiable nor alterable.