Inheritance

May 6, 2021 | Inheritance

Question

السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته

Our family is considering to give away some of our wealth to our children whilst we are alive.

We are taking into consideration the financial situation of our children and apportion part of our wealth whilst we are alive in such a manner that those siblings who are the most needy will receive proportionally more – the siblings have agreed on our intention.

We will also take into consideration the Inheritance Tax implications in the UK and any other country.

The rest of our wealth will be distributed according to Sharia upon death of either/or both my wife and I.

My wife and I have wealth which is separated and will apportion that part of our wealth to our children as we feel appropriate – my wife will apportion her wealth independently.

We have 5 children – 3 males (1 boy, age – 13), 2 daughters
My parents have passed away
Wife’s parents are alive. Also has 2 brothers and 5 sisters

Could you kindly advise on the following.

1. What would be the percentage (parts) that would be distributed to my wife and our children upon my death?
2. What would be the percentage (parts) that would be distributed to me and our children upon my wife’s death, including her parents or any of her other siblings)?
3. What would be the percentage (parts) that would be distributed to our children upon my wife’s and my death at the same time?


Answer

In the name of Allah, the Inspirer of Truth

Please find below the calculations for the share allocations to the three scenarios you mentioned in your question.

With regards to the third scenario – if you and your wife die at the same time, where it is not known who died first, you will not inherit from one another. However, if it is known who died first, the surviving spouse will inherit, and the allocation will be in accordance with scenarios 1 or 2.

Scenarios

Scenario One
Heirs Wife Son 1 Son 2 Son 3 Daughter 1 Daughter 2
Islamic Distribution 1/8 Remainder (daughters will receive half of the son’s share)
Share 8/64 14/64 14/64 14/64 7/64 7/64
% 12.5 21.875 21.875 21.875 10.9375 10.9375
Scenario Two
Heirs Husband Son 1 Son 2 Son 3 Daughter 1 Daughter 2 Father Mother
Islamic Distribution 1/4 Remainder (daughters will receive half of the son’s share) 1/6 1/6
Share 24/96 10/96 10/96 10/96 5/96 5/96 16/96 16/96
% 25 10.4167 10.4167 10.4167 5.2083 5.2083 16.667 16.667
Scenario Three – Your heirs
Heirs Son 1 Son 2 Son 3 Daughter 1 Daughter 2
Islamic Distribution All (daughters will receive half of the son’s share)
Share 2/8 2/8 2/8 1/8 1/8
% 25 25 25 12.5 12.5
Your wife’s heirs
Heirs Son 1 Son 2 Son 3 Daughter 1 Daughter 2 Father Mother
Islamic Distribution Remainder (daughters will receive half of the son’s share) 1/6 1/6
Share 2/12 2/12 2/12 1/12 1/12 2/12 2/12
% 16.667 16.667 16.667 8.333 8.333 16.667 16.667

And Allah knows best.

Answered by:
Ifta Research Fellow

Checked & Approved by:
Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
Mufti Zubair Patel

الدر المختار وحاشية ابن عابدين (رد المحتار) (6/ 769) فَقَالَ (فَيُفْرَضُ لِلزَّوْجَةِ فَصَاعِدًا الثَّمَنُ مَعَ وَلَدٍ أَوْ وَلَدِ ابْنٍ) وَأَمَّا مَعَ وَلَدِ الْبِنْتِ فَيُفْرَضُ لَهَا الرُّبْعُ (وَإِنْ سَفَلَ وَالرُّبْعُ لَهَا عِنْدَ عَدَمِهِمَا) فَلِلزَّوْجَاتِ حَالَتَانِ الرُّبْعُ بِلَا وَلَدٍ وَالثُّمُنُ مَعَ الْوَلَدِ (وَالرُّبْعُ لِلزَّوْجِ) … (مَعَ أَحَدِهِمَا) أَيْ الْوَلَدِ أَوْ وَلَدِ الِابْنِ (وَالنِّصْفُ لَهُ عِنْدَ عَدَمِهِمَا) فَلِلزَّوْجِ حَالَتَانِ النِّصْفُ وَالرُّبْعُ

الدر المختار وحاشية ابن عابدين (رد المحتار) (6/ 770) (وَلِلْأَبِ وَالْجَدِّ) ثَلَاثُ أَحْوَالٍ الْفَرْضُ الْمُطْلَقُ وَهُوَ (السُّدُسُ) وَذَلِكَ (مَعَ وَلَدٍ أَوْ وَلَدِ ابْنٍ)

الدر المختار وحاشية ابن عابدين (رد المحتار) (6/ 772) (وَلِلْأُمِّ) ثَلَاثَةُ أَحْوَالٍ (السُّدُسُ مَعَ أَحَدِهِمَا

 …الدر المختار وحاشية ابن عابدين (رد المحتار) (6/ 774) ثُمَّ الْعَصَبَاتُ بِأَنْفُسِهِمْ أَرْبَعَةُ أَصْنَافٍ جُزْءُ الْمَيِّتِ ثُمَّ أَصْلُهُ ثُمَّ جُزْءُ أَبِيهِ ثُمَّ جُزْءُ جَدِّهِ (وَيُقَدَّمُ الْأَقْرَبُ فَالْأَقْرَبُ مِنْهُمْ) بِهَذَا التَّرْتِيبِ فَيُقَدَّمُ جُزْءُ الْمَيِّتِ (كَالِابْنِ

البحر الرائق شرح كنز الدقائق ومنحة الخالق وتكملة الطوري (8/ 579) وكذلك إذا ترك ابن ابن بنت وبنت بنت بنت فالمال بينهم {للذكر مثل حظ الأنثيين} [النساء: 11]

Muin al-Faraid (English) by Mufti Mahmud Hasan Ajmeri, pp.22-3