Home › Guides › Islamic Inheritance Shares: Basic Hanafi Rules Explained Simply

Islamic Inheritance Shares: Basic Hanafi Rules Explained Simply

Last updated: 15 October 2026 | Reviewed by Habiba, founder of PakCalculators.com

This guide explains a few basic shares used in Hanafi inheritance. It is an introduction, not a legal ruling.

Before Dividing the Estate

Funeral costs, debts and a valid will (generally limited to one third for non-heirs) are usually settled before shares are divided.

Basic Shares Used in My Tool

• A wife gets 1/8 if there are children, otherwise 1/4.
• A mother gets 1/6 if there are children, otherwise 1/3 in this simplified tool.
• A father gets 1/6 if there are children.
• A son receives double the share of a daughter.
• A single daughter alone gets 1/2, and two or more daughters share 2/3.

Worked Example

For a wife, one son and one daughter, the wife gets 1/8 (12.5%). The remaining 7/8 is split 2:1, so the son gets 58.33% and the daughter 29.17%.

Aul, Radd and Umariyyatayn

Aul example: if the shares add up to 27/24, all the shares have to be reduced in proportion.

Radd example: if there is only a daughter, the remaining estate goes back to the daughter.

Umariyyatayn: the case where the wife gets 25%, the mother 25% and the father 50%.

This tool does not cover brothers and sisters, so for the final shares please contact a scholar or a court.

When to Ask a Scholar

Brothers, sisters, grandparents, special conditions and disputes need qualified advice. Please consult a scholar or court for the final distribution.

Common Inheritance Mistakes

The first mistake is dividing the property before settling funeral costs and debts. These are paid first, and then a valid will within its limit is applied. Only the remaining estate is divided among heirs.

The second mistake is assuming all heirs get equal shares. In the simple case of sons and daughters, a son receives twice the share of a daughter.

The third mistake is dividing one share by the wrong number of people. If there is more than one wife, the wife's share is divided equally among them.

The fourth mistake is relying on a simple calculator for complex families, such as cases with grandchildren, brothers or sisters. Those cases need advice from a qualified scholar.

Another Worked Example

Example: An estate of 1,000,000 PKR with one wife, two sons and one daughter, and no surviving parents.

Wife's share: 1/8 because there are children = 125,000 PKR.

Remaining estate: 875,000 PKR, divided into 5 parts (2 for each son and 1 for the daughter). One part is 175,000 PKR.

Each son gets 350,000 PKR and the daughter gets 175,000 PKR.

Example With Parents

Example: An estate of 1,000,000 PKR with one wife, mother, father, one son and one daughter. The wife gets 1/8 and each parent gets 1/6 because there are children. The rest is divided between the son and the daughter in a 2:1 ratio. The calculator shows about 125,000 PKR for the wife, 166,667 PKR for the mother, 166,667 PKR for the father, 361,111 PKR for the son and 180,556 PKR for the daughter.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this calculator a fatwa?

No. It gives a simplified estimate and cannot cover every family situation.

Who decides the final shares?

A qualified scholar or the court decides after reviewing all heirs and details.

Related Tools and Guides

• Islamic Inheritance Calculator (Wirasat)
• Difference Between Gratuity and Pension in Pakistan
• All Guides and Tutorials

This guide is for general information only. Please read my Disclaimer.