Ahl al-Fara'id
أَهْل الْفَرَائِض
Pronunciation: AHL al-fa-RAH-id
The heirs whose shares of the estate are fixed by the Qur'an — typically the spouse, children, parents, and siblings.
Definition
Literally "the people of the prescribed shares." The category of heirs whose inheritance shares are explicitly fixed in the Qur'an (Surah An-Nisa 4:11-12, 4:176): a predetermined fraction such as 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 2/3, 1/3, or 1/6. Classical Sunni jurists identify 13 specific Qur'anic heirs: four males (husband, father, paternal grandfather, maternal brother) and nine females (wife, mother, daughter, son's daughter, paternal grandmother, maternal grandmother, full sister, paternal sister, maternal sister).
Their shares are calculated first; any balance is distributed by ta'sib or radd.
Related Terms
Faraidفرائض
Islamic inheritance law prescribing fixed shares for heirs based on Quranic guidelines.
Ta'sibتَعْصِيب
Residuary inheritance in Islamic law — the heirs who take the balance of the estate after Qur'anic shares are paid.
Raddرَدّ
Proportional reapportionment of an estate to Qur'anic heirs when the prescribed shares total less than 100%.
'Awlعَوْل
Proportional reduction of inheritance shares when the Qur'anic shares total more than 100% of the estate.
Mirathميراث
Islamic inheritance — the transfer of wealth from a deceased Muslim to rightful heirs according to Shariah.
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Ahl al-Fara'id (أَهْل الْفَرَائِض) — The heirs whose shares of the estate are fixed by the Qur'an — typically the spouse, children, parents, and siblings. Literally "the people of the prescribed shares." The category of heirs whose inheritance shares are explicitly fixed in the Qur'an (Surah An-Nisa 4:11-12, 4:176): a predetermined fraction such as 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 2/3, 1/3, or 1/6. Classical Sunni jurists identify 13 specific Qur'anic heirs: four males (husband, father, paternal grandfather, maternal brother) and nine females (wife, mother, daughter, son's daughter, paternal grandmother, maternal grandmother, full sister, paternal sister, maternal sister).
- The heirs whose shares of the estate are fixed by the Qur'an — typically the spouse, children, parents, and siblings.
- Category: Estate Planning
- Related: Faraid, Ta'sib, Radd, 'Awl, Mirath
- Compare related Shariah-compliant products on HalalWallet
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Reviewed by: HalalWallet Editorial Team
Last reviewed: 2026-05-01
Editorial Team, HalalWallet
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