What This Calculator Estimates
Fara'id is the Islamic system of fixed inheritance shares set out primarily in Surah An-Nisa (4:11-12) of the Quran. It defines specific fractional shares for certain heirs (spouse, parents, and daughters in some cases) and treats other heirs as 'asaba (residuary), who divide whatever remains after fixed shares are paid — with male 'asaba heirs generally receiving twice the share of equally-placed female 'asaba heirs. This calculator applies the majority Sunni structure to the common nuclear-family scenario: a surviving spouse, children, parents, and full siblings (siblings only inherit when there is no father and no sons).
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter the net estate value (after debts, funeral costs, and any bequest up to one-third of the estate).
- Select whether the deceased was male or female — this changes whether the spouse is a husband or wife, and their respective shares.
- Enter the surviving family members: spouse, sons, daughters, mother, father, and — only if relevant — full brothers and sisters.
- Click Calculate Distribution.
- Review the breakdown, and confirm with a scholar before relying on it for an actual estate.
Scope and Limits
This calculator handles the fixed shares for spouse, mother, father, and daughters (when no sons are present), the 'asaba (residuary) split among sons and daughters together, and the 'asaba fallback to father or full siblings when there are no children. It applies awl (proportional reduction) automatically if the fixed shares exceed the full estate. It does not automatically apply radd (returning leftover residue to certain heirs when there's no 'asaba heir) — if that situation arises, the calculator will flag it and you'll need a scholar to confirm the correct radd distribution for your madhab. It also does not handle grandparents, half-siblings, multiple generations of relatives, missing/excluded heirs, or non-Sunni inheritance systems, all of which are common enough in practice that a scholar's review matters.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Fara'id?
Fara'id is the Islamic system of fixed inheritance shares, derived primarily from verses in Surah An-Nisa of the Quran, that determines how a deceased Muslim's estate is distributed among specific categories of surviving relatives.
Does this calculator cover every family situation?
No. This calculator covers the common nuclear-family case — spouse, children, parents, and full siblings. Estates involving multiple wives, grandparents, half-siblings, more distant relatives, missing heirs, or bequests require a qualified scholar or Islamic court, since the rules for those situations involve additional adjustments this tool does not model.
Why do sons get twice the share of daughters?
Under the classical ruling, male heirs in the 'asaba (residuary) category inherit at twice the rate of equally-placed female heirs, reflecting differing financial obligations assigned in Islamic law (such as mahr and full financial maintenance of a household), not a statement about worth. Scholars have written extensively on the reasoning; this calculator applies the rule as classically defined.
What happens if the shares do not add up to the whole estate?
Two adjustment mechanisms exist in Fara'id: awl, where shares are proportionally reduced if they exceed the whole estate, and radd, where leftover residue is returned to certain heirs if no residuary ('asaba) heir exists. This calculator applies awl automatically and flags radd cases for scholarly review rather than resolving them automatically, since the correct radd recipients vary by school of thought.
Should I use this for actual estate distribution?
No. This is an educational estimate of the majority Sunni fixed-share structure only. Actual estate settlement should always be confirmed with a qualified Islamic scholar, Islamic court (Sharia council), or estate attorney familiar with Islamic inheritance law, particularly because madhab (school of thought) differences, local civil law, and family-specific details can all change the outcome.
Last updated: August 18, 2026