Prepared by: Emrah Demirci · Faraid app developer
Published: June 15, 2026 · Updated: July 13, 2026
This content is for education and general information only. Consult a qualified Islamic inheritance scholar and local legal professional before distributing a real estate.
The Quranic Basis
The status of wives in Islamic inheritance is declared clearly in the Quran, Surah An-Nisa (4:12):
۞ وَلَكُمْ نِصْفُ مَا تَرَكَ أَزْوَٰجُكُمْ إِن لَّمْ يَكُن لَّهُنَّ وَلَدٌۭ ۚ فَإِن كَانَ لَهُنَّ وَلَدٌۭ فَلَكُمُ ٱلرُّبُعُ مِمَّا تَرَكْنَ … وَلَهُنَّ ٱلرُّبُعُ مِمَّا تَرَكْتُمْ إِن لَّمْ يَكُن لَّكُمْ وَلَدٌۭ ۚ فَإِن كَانَ لَكُمْ وَلَدٌۭ فَلَهُنَّ ٱلثُّمُنُ مِمَّا تَرَكْتُم
"You will inherit half of what your wives leave if they are childless. But if they have children, then your share is one-fourth of the estate … And your wives will inherit one-fourth of what you leave if you are childless. But if you have children, then your wives will receive one-eighth of your estate." — Qur'an 4:12
The Husband's Share
A husband receives one-half (1/2) when his deceased wife leaves no child or qualifying descendant. He receives one-fourth (1/4) when she leaves a child or qualifying descendant. Debts and a valid bequest are settled before the distributable estate is divided.
No descendants: husband 1/2.
With descendants: husband 1/4.
Two Scenarios for the Wife's Share
Scenario 1 — No Children: Wife Gets 1/4
If the deceased husband left no child (of any wife), the wife or wives together receive one-fourth (1/4) of the estate.
Example:
A man dies leaving a wife and his father.
Father is Asabah (Binafsihi) and inherits the remainder.
Scenario 2 — With Children: Wife Gets 1/8
If the deceased husband left a child, the wife or wives together receive one-eighth (1/8) of the estate.
Example:
A man dies leaving a wife, a son, and his father.
What If There Are Multiple Wives?
If the deceased had more than one wife, they share the 1/4 or 1/8 fraction equally among themselves. For example, if there are two wives and no children, each wife receives 1/8 of the estate (sharing the combined 1/4 equally).
Calculate Inheritance Shares Instantly
The Faraid app handles husband and wife shares, descendants and multiple-spouse cases, with the supporting evidence displayed.
Sources
- Primary reference: Teshilü’l Feraiz
- The Quranic inheritance verses and reliable classical and contemporary Faraid works