Order of payments from the estate
- Funeral and burial costs.
- Debts of the deceased, including unpaid haq mehr to the wife.
- Bequest (wasiyat) to non-heirs, up to one third of what is left.
- The remainder is divided between the heirs.
Fixed shares (Hanafi)
| Heir | With children | Without children |
|---|---|---|
| Husband | 1/4 | 1/2 |
| Wife (or wives together) | 1/8 | 1/4 |
| Father | 1/6 (+ residue if only daughters) | Residue |
| Mother | 1/6 | 1/3 (1/6 with 2+ siblings) |
| Daughter(s), no son | 1 daughter 1/2, 2+ daughters 2/3 shared | |
| Sons and daughters | Residue, son 2 parts and daughter 1 part | |
Worked example
A man leaves Rs 10,000,000 after costs and debts, a wife, his mother, 2 sons and 1 daughter.
- Wife: 1/8 = Rs 1,250,000
- Mother: 1/6 = Rs 1,666,667
- Residue: 10,000,000 − 2,916,667 = Rs 7,083,333, split into 5 parts (2 + 2 + 1)
- Each son: Rs 2,833,333, daughter: Rs 1,416,667
Special cases handled
- Awl – when fixed shares add up to more than the estate (e.g. husband, 2 sisters and mother), every share is reduced in proportion.
- Radd – when shares add up to less and there is no residuary heir, the surplus goes back to blood relatives (not the spouse).
- Umariyyatan – spouse with both parents and no children: the mother gets 1/3 of what is left after the spouse’s share.
Planning for zakat on inherited wealth? Use the zakat calculator. Selling inherited property? See the property tax calculator for 236C and 236K.
For guidance only. Shia (Jafari) law and complex families differ – confirm with a mufti, Darul Ifta or a lawyer before dividing property.
Frequently asked questions
How is inheritance divided in Islam in Pakistan?
For Muslims, Pakistani courts apply the personal law of the deceased’s sect under the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act 1962. First funeral costs and debts are paid, then bequests up to one third, and the rest is divided into fixed Quranic shares (spouse, parents, daughters, sisters) with the remainder going to residuary heirs such as sons.
What is the share of a wife in her husband’s property?
A wife gets 1/8 of the estate if the husband left children, and 1/4 if he left no children. If there are several wives, they share that 1/8 or 1/4 equally. Unpaid haq mehr is a debt and is paid to her before the estate is divided.
Why does a son get double the share of a daughter?
Surah An-Nisa (4:11) gives a son the share of two daughters. Sons carry the duty to support their mother, wife, children and sisters, while a daughter’s share is entirely hers.
Do brothers and sisters inherit if the deceased had a son?
No. Full brothers and sisters are excluded by a son or by the father. They do inherit alongside daughters: brothers take the residue, and sisters take the residue with daughters if there is no brother.
Do grandchildren of a predeceased son or daughter inherit?
Under classical Hanafi law they are excluded by a living son. In Pakistan, Section 4 of the Muslim Family Laws Ordinance 1961 gives orphaned grandchildren the share their parent would have received. This calculator does not include grandchildren – take advice for these cases.
How do I get a succession certificate in Pakistan?
For bank accounts and shares, apply to NADRA’s Succession Facilitation Unit (in Islamabad, Punjab, KP and Sindh) or to the civil court. Land is transferred through the revenue department (inheritance mutation / intiqal) or the provincial land record authority.
Last reviewed: October 2026