The Core Consensus (Ijma)

It is important to emphasise that the overwhelming majority of Islamic inheritance law is universally agreed upon across all four Sunni schools of thought. The shares of spouses, parents, and children are explicitly stated in the Quran and leave no room for divergence. The differences between the madhabs are confined to specific edge cases — though these edge cases can significantly affect the distribution.

The Grandfather and Sibling Conflict

The most practically significant divergence occurs when a paternal grandfather and full siblings (brothers/sisters) coexist. This is known as the Musharaka or Muqasama problem:

  • Hanafi: The grandfather takes the entire residue, completely blocking the siblings. He is treated as equivalent to the father in this situation.
  • Maliki, Shafi'i, Hanbali: The grandfather and full brothers share the residue using muqasama (division). The grandfather receives at least 1/3 of the residue, or an equal share to each brother (whichever is more beneficial to him).

Radd (Return) to the Surviving Spouse

When fixed shares are distributed but no residuary heir exists, a surplus remains. This surplus is returned proportionally to the fixed-share heirs — a process called Radd.

  • Maliki: The surviving spouse participates in the Radd alongside other heirs.
  • Hanafi, Shafi'i, Hanbali: The Radd goes only to non-spouse heirs. The spouse retains only their fixed 1/4 or 1/8 share.

Dhawul Arham (Distant Kindred)

Dhawul Arham are relatives connected to the deceased through female lines — the daughter's children, maternal aunts, and similar relatives not counted among the primary Asabah.

  • Hanafi and Hanbali: Dhawul Arham inherit when no primary heirs or Asabah are present.
  • Maliki and Shafi'i: Historically, surplus went to the public treasury (Bayt al-Mal). Most contemporary scholars of these madhabs now align with the Hanafi view given the absence of a properly functioning Islamic treasury today.

Practical Implications for Your Calculation

For the majority of common estate scenarios — a spouse, children, and parents — the madhab selected will produce identical results. The differences only surface in less common scenarios involving grandparents, distant relatives, or unusual combinations of heirs. Our calculator automatically applies the correct madhab-specific rules when you make your selection.