How Faraid distribution works
Islamic inheritance (Faraid) distributes an estate in a fixed order. First come funeral expenses, then outstanding debts — no heir receives anything until debts are settled. Next, any bequest (wasiyyah) up to one-third of the estate is honored. Only then are the fixed Quranic shares applied, and whatever remains goes to the residuary heirs (typically sons, then other male relatives).
The key fixed shares
Husband: 1/2 if no children, 1/4 if there are children. Wife: 1/4 if no children, 1/8 if there are children (shared equally among co-wives). Father: 1/6. Mother: 1/3 if no children, 1/6 if there are children. Sons and daughters share the remainder with each son receiving twice a daughter's share (2:1). These proportions are fixed — they do not change with the estate's size.
Worked example: Rs 1,200,000 estate, wife + one son + one daughter
Assume debts and funeral are already settled and there is no bequest. The wife takes 1/8 (there are children): 1,200,000 ÷ 8 = Rs 150,000. Remainder: 1,200,000 − 150,000 = Rs 1,050,000. Split 2:1 between son and daughter — 3 equal parts of 350,000 each: the son receives 2 × 350,000 = Rs 700,000, the daughter receives Rs 350,000. Check: 150,000 + 700,000 + 350,000 = 1,200,000. ✓
Important limits
This calculator gives an educational estimate for standard cases. Real estates can involve complications — awl (shares exceeding 100%), radd (shares below 100%), missing heirs, or non-Muslim relatives — where a qualified scholar or Islamic jurist should be consulted before any distribution.
Awl and radd in plain words
Two edge cases complete the picture. Awl (proportional reduction) happens when fixed shares total more than 100% — e.g., a husband (1/2) plus two full sisters (2/3) = 7/6. Every share is scaled by 6/7 so the estate fits; nobody is skipped. Radd (return) is the mirror: shares total less than 100% with no residuary heir — e.g., only a mother and one daughter. The surplus is redistributed to the fixed-share heirs (except spouses, in most schools) in proportion to their shares. This calculator handles standard distributions; if your case triggers awl or radd, take the figures to a scholar for confirmation before distributing.
More calculators you may find useful.