Faraid · Grandparents
Grandmother's Share of Inheritance in Islam: 1/6
A grandmother (maternal or paternal) inherits a fixed 1/6, established by the Sunnah. The maternal grandmother is blocked by the mother; the paternal grandmother is blocked by the mother and by the father. Multiple eligible grandmothers share the single 1/6.
Real estates combine heirs — the calculator resolves the precise fractions for your family
Direct answer
How much does a grandmother inherit in Islam?
A grandmother (maternal or paternal) inherits a fixed 1/6, established by the Sunnah. The maternal grandmother is blocked by the mother; the paternal grandmother is blocked by the mother and by the father. Multiple eligible grandmothers share the single 1/6.
A grandmother (maternal or paternal) inherits a fixed 1/6, established by the Sunnah. The maternal grandmother is blocked by the mother; the paternal grandmother is blocked by the mother and by the father. Multiple eligible grandmothers share the single 1/6.
- Mother is alive → Blocked
- No mother (and for paternal side, no father) → 1/6
- 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 Grandmother's Quranic Share by Situation
The basis is Sunnah (Hadith on the grandmother's sixth). The share depends on which other heirs survive the deceased:
| Situation | Share | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Mother is alive | Blocked | The mother excludes the grandmother(s). |
| No mother (and for paternal side, no father) | 1/6 | The sixth, shared if more than one grandmother qualifies. |
When the Share Changes or Is Blocked
A maternal grandmother is blocked by the mother. A paternal grandmother is blocked by both the mother and the father. When more than one grandmother is eligible, they divide the single 1/6 equally — it is not 1/6 each.
Example: a person dies leaving a husband, a maternal grandmother, and a son (no mother)
The husband takes 1/4 (a child exists), the grandmother takes 1/6, and the son takes the remaining residue. Had the deceased's mother been alive, she would have taken the 1/6 and the grandmother would inherit nothing.
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
U.S. intestacy rarely reaches a grandparent when closer heirs exist, so the grandmother's Sunnah-established 1/6 is lost without an explicit Islamic will directing it.
An Islamic will is the only way to make sure the grandmother'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
Consider Consulting an Islamic Scholar
Major Islamic inheritance (Faraid) decisions often involve nuances that vary by scholarly opinion and personal circumstance. While HalalWallet provides educational comparisons and tools, we are not scholars or financial advisors. For personal guidance on Shariah compliance, consider speaking with a qualified Islamic scholar, your local imam, or a Shariah-certified financial advisor familiar with your situation.
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Reviewed by: HalalWallet Editorial Team
Last reviewed: 2026-06-01
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