What is Faraid? Islamic Inheritance Law Explained
Faraid is the Islamic law of inheritance derived directly from the Quran — the most detailed set of legal provisions in the entire Quranic text. This guide explains its definition, Quranic foundations, heir categories, calculation methodology, and how it applies in modern estate planning.
In this article
Key Facts about Faraid
- Faraid is derived directly from the Quran — primarily Surah an-Nisa 4:11–12 and 4:176 — the most detailed legal provisions in the entire Quran.
- Fixed shares (furud muqaddarah) are specified for up to twelve categories of heirs; the remaining estate passes to residuary heirs (asabah).
- A wasiyyah (bequest) is limited to a maximum of one-third of the estate and cannot be made in favour of Quranic heirs without the consent of other heirs.
- Faraid applies to all forms of property — cash, real estate, gold, business interests, intellectual property, and digital assets.
- There are differences between madhabs on certain edge cases, particularly concerning the shares of grandmother, uterine siblings, and the position of the grandfather alongside brothers.
- Debts (including unpaid zakat, mahr, and loans) must be settled from the estate before faraid shares are distributed.
- Non-Muslim relatives and murderers are excluded from inheritance under faraid by prophetic tradition.
Definition & Etymology
Core Definition
Faraid (فرائض) is the plural of faridhah, derived from the Arabic root f-r-d (ف-ر-ض), meaning to ordain, make obligatory, or prescribe. In Islamic law, faraid refers to the system of fixed inheritance shares ordained by Allah for specific categories of heirs — shares that are mandatory and cannot be altered by human will.
The term captures both the obligatory nature of the distribution (it is fard — a religious duty) and the fixed, predetermined character of the shares themselves. Unlike secular inheritance systems where testators enjoy near-complete freedom to distribute property as they wish, Islamic inheritance law constrains that freedom to protect the rights of Quranic heirs. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) described knowledge of faraid as "half of all knowledge" (Sunan Ibn Majah), reflecting its importance and complexity.
Faraid applies upon the death of any Muslim. It governs the distribution of all property that does not fall under a valid wasiyyah (bequest up to one-third of the estate) or joint ownership arrangements that pass automatically outside the estate. In many Muslim-majority countries, faraid is codified in state law. In Western countries, Muslims must take affirmative steps — through Islamic wills and estate planning — to ensure their estate is distributed according to faraid principles.
For planning purposes, see our Wasiyyah guide and the Islamic Finance Basics introduction.
How Faraid Works
The faraid system is activated at the moment of death. It operates through a defined sequence of steps that must be followed in order:
Faraid Distribution Sequence
- 1
Funeral expenses
Reasonable burial and funeral costs are paid first from the estate — this takes priority even over debts.
- 2
Outstanding debts
All debts owed by the deceased — including personal loans, unpaid mahr, business debts, and unpaid zakat — must be settled in full.
- 3
Execute the wasiyyah
If the deceased left a valid wasiyyah (Islamic will), it is executed up to a maximum of one-third of the remaining estate.
- 4
Distribute faraid shares
The remaining estate is distributed to Quranic heirs (ashab al-furud) according to their fixed shares, then to residuary heirs (asabah).
Heir Categories
Islamic inheritance law classifies heirs into three broad categories, each with different entitlements:
1. Ashab al-Furud — Fixed Share Heirs
These heirs receive specific fractions of the estate as ordained by the Quran. The six fixed fractions are: 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 2/3, 1/3, and 1/6.
| Heir | Share (with children) | Share (no children) |
|---|---|---|
| Husband | 1/4 | 1/2 |
| Wife (one or more) | 1/8 | 1/4 |
| Father | 1/6 | Residuary |
| Mother | 1/6 | 1/3 |
| Daughter (one) | 1/2 | 1/2 |
| Daughters (2+) | 2/3 | 2/3 |
2. Asabah — Residuary Heirs
After fixed shares are distributed, the remaining estate passes to asabah — male relatives on the father's side who inherit in a defined priority order: sons, then grandsons, then the father, then paternal grandfather, then full brothers, then paternal half-brothers, then paternal uncles, and so on. Sons receive twice the share of daughters when they inherit together as asabah.
3. Dhawil Arham — Distant Relatives
If no fixed-share heirs or asabah exist (a rare scenario), more distant relatives (maternal relatives and connected collateral relatives not in the first two categories) inherit under the rules of dhawil arham. The Hanafi and Hanbali schools recognise dhawil arham inheritance; the Maliki and Shafi'i schools generally direct the estate to the Muslim treasury (bayt al-mal) in such cases.
Calculation Method
Faraid calculations use classical fractional arithmetic. The standard method involves identifying the "base number" (asl al-masa'la) — the lowest common denominator of all the fixed shares in a given scenario — and calculating each heir's share as a fraction of that base. For example, if a man dies leaving a wife, daughter, and father:
Example Calculation
Heirs: Wife, one daughter, father
Wife's share: 1/8 (because there is a daughter)
Daughter's share: 1/2
Father's share: 1/6 as fixed share + residue as asabah
Base (LCM): 24
Wife: 3/24 | Daughter: 12/24 | Father: 4/24 fixed + 5/24 residue = 9/24
Total: 3 + 12 + 9 = 24/24 ✓
When fixed shares add up to more than the estate (a situation called "awl" or oversubscription), each heir's share is proportionally reduced. When they add up to less and there are no asabah (a situation called "radd" or return), the surplus is returned to fixed-share heirs in proportion to their shares. Use our Faraid Calculator to handle these calculations automatically for any combination of heirs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Rashid Al-Mansoori
Verified ExpertIslamic Finance Specialist & Shariah Advisor
Dubai-based Islamic finance specialist with 15+ years in Shariah-compliant banking, investment structuring, and financial advisory across the GCC. Certified by AAOIFI and CISI. Founded Islamic Finance Calculator to make Islamic finance education accessible to everyone.
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