Question:
Under Islamic law, why is a woman's share of the inherited wealth only
half that of a man?
Answer:
The Glorious Qur’an contains specific and detailed guidance regarding
the division of the inherited wealth, among the rightful beneficiaries.
The Qur'anic verses that contain guidance regarding inheritance are:
- Surah Baqarah, chapter 2 verse 180
- Surah Baqarah, chapter 2 verse 240
- Surah Nisa, chapter 4 verse 7-9
- Surah Nisa, chapter 4 verse 19
- Surah Nisa, chapter 4 verse 33 and
- Surah Maidah, chapter 5 verse 106-108
There are three verses in the Qur'an that broadly describe
the share of close relatives i.e. Surah Nisah chapter 4 verses 11, 12
and 176. The translation of these verses are as follows:
"Allah (swt) (thus) directs you as regards your children's
(inheritance): to the male, a portion equal to that of two females, if
only daughters, two or more, their share is two-thirds of the inheritance;
If only one, her share is a half.
For parents, a sixth share of the inheritance to each,
if the deceased left children; If no children, and the parents are the
(only) heirs, the mother has a third; if the deceased left brothers (or
sisters) the mother has a sixth. (The distribution in all cases is) after
the payment of legacies and debts. Ye know not whether your parents or
your children are nearest to you in benefit. These are settled portions
ordained by Allah; and Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.
In what your wives leave, your share is half. If they
leave no child; but if they leave a child, ye get a fourth; after payment
of legacies and debts. In what ye leave, their share is a fourth, if ye
leave no child; but if ye leave a child, they get an eight; after payment
of legacies and debts. If the man or woman whose inheritance is in question,
has left neither ascendants nor descendants, but has left a brother or
a sister, each one of the two gets a sixth; but if more than two, they
share in a third; after payment of legacies and debts; so that no loss
is caused (to anyone). Thus it is ordained by Allah; and Allah is All-Knowing
Most Forbearing"
[Al-Qur'an 4:11-12]
"They ask thee for a legal decision. Say: Allah directs
(them) about those who leave no descendants or ascendants as heirs. If
it is a man that dies, leaving a sister but no child, she shall have half
the inheritance. If (such a deceased was) a woman who left no child, Her
brother takes her inheritance. If there are two sisters, they shall have
two thirds of the inheritance (between them). If there are brothers and
sisters, (they share), the male having twice the share of the female.
Thus doth Allah (swt) makes clear to you (His knowledge of all things).
[Al-Qur'an 4:176]
In most of the cases, a woman inherits half of what her male counterpart
inherits. However, this is not always the case. In case the deceased has
left no ascendant or descendent but has left the uterine brother and sister,
each of the two inherit one sixth. If the deceased has left children,
both the parents that is mother and father get an equal share and inherit
one sixth each. In certain cases, a woman can also inherit a share that
is double that of the male. If the deceased is a woman who has left no
children, brothers or sisters and is survived only by her husband, mother
and father, the husband inherits half the property while the mother inherits
one third and the father the remaining one sixth. In this particular case,
the mother inherits a share that is double that of the father. It is true
that as a general rule, in most cases, the female inherits a share that
is half that of the male. For instance in the following cases:
- daughter inherits half of what the son inherits,
- wife inherits 1/8th and husband 1/4th if the deceased has no children.
- Wife inherits 1/4th and husband 1/2 if the deceased has children
- If the deceased has no ascendant or descendent, the sister inherits
a share that is half that of the brother.
In Islam a woman has no financial obligation and the economical responsibility
lies on the shoulders of the man. Before a woman is married it is the
duty of the father or brother to look after the lodging, boarding, clothing
and other financial requirements of the woman. After she is married it
is the duty of the husband or the son. Islam holds the man financially
responsible for fulfilling the needs of his family. In order to do be
able to fulfill the responsibility the men get double the share of the
inheritance. For example, if a man dies leaving about Rs. One Hundred
and Fifty Thousand, for the children (i.e one son and one daughter) the
son inherits One Hundred Thousand rupees and the daughter only Fifty Thousand
rupees. Out of the one hundred thousand which the son inherits, as his
duty towards his family, he may have to spend on them almost the entire
amount or say about eighty thousand and thus he has a small percentage
of inheritance, say about twenty thousand, left for himself. On the other
hand, the daughter, who inherits fifty thousand is not bound to spend
a single penny on anybody. She can keep the entire amount for herself.
Would you prefer inheriting one hundred thousand rupees and spending eighty
thousand from it, or inheriting fifty thousand rupees and having the entire
amount to yourself?
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