Hajb: Islamic Inheritance Blocking Rules Explained

What Is Hajb?

Hajb (حَجْب) means "screen" or "veil" in Arabic. In Islamic inheritance law, Hajb refers to the exclusion or reduction of an heir's share due to the presence of a closer or stronger heir. It is one of the most important mechanisms in Faraid because it determines not just how much heirs receive, but whether they inherit at all.

The underlying principle of Hajb is one of the most rational in Islamic inheritance law: the closer relative screens the more distant relative in the same line. A son blocks a grandson. A father blocks a paternal grandfather. A full brother blocks a paternal half-brother. Proximity to the deceased determines who inherits.

The Two Types of Hajb

1. Hajb Hirman (Total Exclusion)

Hajb Hirman (حجب حرمان) — "exclusion from inheritance" — means the blocked heir receives absolutely nothing. Their presence in the family tree is irrelevant for this estate because a closer heir screens them out entirely.

2. Hajb Nuqsan (Reduction of Share)

Hajb Nuqsan (حجب نقصان) — "reduction in share" — means the heir still inherits, but at a reduced share compared to what they would receive in the absence of the blocking event. The heir is not excluded; they are simply diminished.

Full Hajb Hirman (Total Exclusion) Rules

Presence of	Completely Blocks
Son	Grandson, all brothers (full & paternal), all sisters (from Asabah role), all nephews, all uncles, paternal grandfather
Grandson (son's son)	Lower grandsons, all brothers, all sisters (Asabah), nephews, uncles
Father	Paternal grandfather, all brothers (full & paternal), all sisters (from Asabah), nephews, uncles
Paternal grandfather (Hanafi)	All siblings (full & paternal & uterine)
Full brother	Paternal half-brothers, paternal half-sisters (from Asabah)
Two full sisters (taking 2/3)	Paternal half-sisters from their supplementary 1/6
Any son/grandson or father	Uterine siblings
Full or paternal sibling	Uterine siblings

Full Hajb Nuqsan (Reduction) Rules

Heir	Maximum Share	Reduced to	Triggered by
Husband	1/2	1/4	Children or grandchildren
Wife/Wives	1/4 (shared)	1/8 (shared)	Children or grandchildren
Mother	1/3	1/6	Children, grandchildren, or 2+ siblings
Father	Pure Asabah	1/6 + residue (daughters only) or 1/6 (sons present)	Children
Grandmother	1/6	Excluded entirely	Living mother (Hajb Hirman, not Nuqsan)
Granddaughter	1/2 (alone) or 2/3 (group)	1/6 supplementary	One daughter (to complete 2/3 total)
Paternal half-sisters	1/2 or 2/3	1/6 supplementary	One full sister (alone)

Heirs Who Are Never Blocked

Four heirs can never be completely excluded (Hajb Hirman) from an estate — they always receive some share regardless of who else is present:

Father — always inherits (at minimum 1/6 with children present)
Mother — always inherits (at minimum 1/6)
Husband — always inherits (at minimum 1/4)
Wife/Wives — always inherit (at minimum 1/8 shared)

The Key Madhab Difference: Grandfather and Siblings

The most consequential madhab disagreement in all of Hajb concerns whether the paternal grandfather applies Hajb Hirman to siblings or only Hajb Nuqsan:

Hanafi: The paternal grandfather completely blocks all siblings (full, paternal, and uterine) — Hajb Hirman. Siblings receive nothing when a grandfather is present.
Maliki, Shafi'i, Hanbali: The grandfather does not block siblings — instead, muqasama (sharing) applies. The grandfather inherits alongside full siblings, with a guaranteed minimum of 1/3.

Worked Example: Multiple Blocking Rules in One Estate

Estate: R 840,000. Deceased: male. Heirs: wife, mother, son, daughter, full brother, paternal grandfather.

Heir	Blocking Applied	Share	Amount
Wife	Children present → Hajb Nuqsan 1/4→1/8	1/8	R 105,000
Mother	Children present → Hajb Nuqsan 1/3→1/6	1/6	R 140,000
Father	Not present	—	—
Paternal grandfather	Son present → Hajb Hirman — receives nothing	0	R 0
Full brother	Son present → Hajb Hirman — receives nothing	0	R 0
Son + Daughter	Ta'sib: 2:1 ratio on residue	Son 2/3 residue, Daughter 1/3	Son R 396,667; Daughter R 198,333

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Hajb Hirman and Hajb Nuqsan?

Hajb Hirman is total exclusion — the blocked heir receives nothing. Hajb Nuqsan is reduction — the heir still inherits but at a lower share. For example, a living son completely blocks a grandson (Hirman), while the presence of children reduces the wife's share from 1/4 to 1/8 (Nuqsan).

Which heirs can never be completely excluded from an estate?

Four heirs can never be totally blocked: the father, the mother, the husband, and the wife (or wives). They always receive some fixed share, regardless of what other heirs are present.

Does a grandson block if no son is alive?

No. A grandson is only blocked when a son is alive. If the son is deceased, the grandson steps up and inherits as the son would have — as the primary Asabah heir. The grandson then applies the same blocking rules as a son would.

How does the father's death affect who inherits?

The father blocks the paternal grandfather and all siblings. Once the father is deceased, these heirs become active: the paternal grandfather inherits (in the father's place, but with madhab-specific differences regarding siblings), and if no grandfather exists, full brothers and sisters can inherit.

Which madhab has the strictest blocking rules?

The Hanafi madhab has the strictest application of blocking for one specific rule: the paternal grandfather completely blocks all siblings. The other three madhabs (Maliki, Shafi'i, Hanbali) apply muqasama instead, allowing the grandfather to share with siblings rather than blocking them entirely.