Faraid · Grandparents
Grandfather (paternal)'s Share of Inheritance in Islam: 1/6 (+ residue), like a father
A paternal grandfather inherits much like a father when the father is absent: a fixed 1/6 when descendants exist, plus residue when there is no male descendant. He is completely blocked by the father, and does not trigger the special 'Umariyyah' rulings that the father does.
Real estates combine heirs — the calculator resolves the precise fractions for your family
Direct answer
How much does a grandfather (paternal) inherit in Islam?
A paternal grandfather inherits much like a father when the father is absent: a fixed 1/6 when descendants exist, plus residue when there is no male descendant. He is completely blocked by the father, and does not trigger the special 'Umariyyah' rulings that the father does.
A paternal grandfather inherits much like a father when the father is absent: a fixed 1/6 when descendants exist, plus residue when there is no male descendant. He is completely blocked by the father, and does not trigger the special 'Umariyyah' rulings that the father does.
- Father is alive → Blocked
- No father; descendants present → 1/6 (+ residue if no male descendant)
- No father, no descendants → Residuary / with siblings
- Combined heirs trigger blocking, ʿawl, and radd — use the Faraid calculator
- U.S. intestacy does not produce these shares — an Islamic will is required
The Grandfather (paternal)'s Quranic Share by Situation
The basis is Surah An-Nisa 4:11 (by analogy to the father). The share depends on which other heirs survive the deceased:
| Situation | Share | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Father is alive | Blocked | The father excludes the grandfather. |
| No father; descendants present | 1/6 (+ residue if no male descendant) | Like the father's position. |
| No father, no descendants | Residuary / with siblings | Inherits the residue, with specific rules when siblings are present. |
When the Share Changes or Is Blocked
A paternal grandfather is blocked entirely by the father. When he does inherit, he generally takes the father's position, except in certain cases involving siblings where the schools differ on how he and the siblings divide.
Example: a man dies leaving a wife, a paternal grandfather, and a daughter (no father, no son)
The wife takes 1/8, the daughter takes 1/2, and the grandfather takes 1/6 plus the remaining residue (acting in the father's place, since there is no male descendant). A Faraid calculator confirms the exact fractions including any radd.
Want this resolved for your own family? Run it through the Faraid calculator — it applies blocking, ʿawl, and radd automatically.
Why U.S. Law Won't Deliver This Share
As with the father, a grandfather's Quranic position is not reflected in U.S. intestacy when nearer heirs survive. An Islamic will is required to honor it.
An Islamic will is the only way to make sure the grandfather (paternal)'s Quranic share is honored instead of your state's default intestacy rules. ShariaWiz builds scholar-reviewed, state-specific Islamic wills and trusts — an Islamic will from $199, with a built-in Faraid engine.
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Shares of other heirs
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Reviewed by: HalalWallet Editorial Team
Last reviewed: 2026-07-01
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