What is Faraid?
The Islamic science of inheritance distribution.
The basics
Faraid (also spelled faraaid or fara'id) is the Islamic law of inheritance. It is derived directly from the Quran — specifically Surah An-Nisa (4:11–12 and 4:176) — and from authenticated Hadith of the Prophet ﷺ.
Unlike secular inheritance law, which generally allows you to leave your assets to whoever you want, faraid prescribes fixed shares for specific heirs. The deceased can give away up to one-third of their estate in a bequest (wasiyyah) to non-heirs or charity, but the remaining two-thirds must be distributed according to these fixed rules.
“Allah instructs you regarding your children: for the male, what is equal to the share of two females. But if there are only daughters, two or more, for them is two thirds of one’s estate. And if there is only one, for her is half. And for one’s parents, to each one of them is a sixth of his estate if he left children.”
Who are the heirs?
There are two categories of heirs in faraid:
Dhil-Furoodh (Fixed share heirs)
These heirs receive a specific fraction of the estate — 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/3, 2/3, or 1/6 — as prescribed by the Quran. They include the spouse, daughters, parents, and some siblings.
Asabat (Residuary heirs)
After fixed shares are distributed, the remaining estate goes to the residuary heirs. Sons are the primary residuary heirs. If there are no residuary heirs, the surplus is returned to the fixed share heirs (Ar-Radd).
Key rules
Hajb (Blocking)
Closer relatives block more distant ones. For example: if the deceased has children, all siblings are blocked from inheriting. If the father is alive, all siblings are blocked.
Al-Awl (Proportional reduction)
If the fixed shares add up to more than the total estate, each share is reduced proportionally. The estate is divided into more parts, not less.
Ar-Radd (Return of surplus)
If the fixed shares add up to less than the estate and there are no residuary heirs, the surplus is returned to the fixed share heirs in proportion to their shares (except the spouse in Hanafi rules).
Wasiyyah (Bequest)
Up to one-third of the net estate can be willed to non-heirs or charity. It cannot go to an heir, and it cannot exceed one-third.