What are fixed shares in Islamic inheritance?
Islamic Wills
Fixed shares (Faraid) are the predetermined portions of your estate that specific family members are entitled to receive under Islamic law. These shares are prescribed in the Quran and cannot be changed.
The main heirs who receive fixed shares include:
- Spouses: Husbands typically receive 1/4 or 1/2 depending on whether there are children. Wives receive 1/8 or 1/4.
- Children: Sons and daughters inherit, with sons typically receiving twice the share of daughters
- Parents: Both mother and father receive specific shares
- Siblings: May inherit if there are no closer relatives
These shares are calculated mathematically based on who survives you. The presence or absence of certain relatives affects what others receive. For example, if you have children, your spouse receives a smaller share than if you have no children.
Approximately two-thirds (or more) of your estate must be distributed according to these fixed shares. The remaining one-third can be used for optional bequests.