Faraid · Siblings
Maternal half-siblings's Share of Inheritance in Islam: 1/6 or 1/3 (shared equally)
Maternal half-siblings (brothers or sisters who share only the mother) take a fixed 1/6 if one, or share 1/3 equally if two or more. Uniquely, they divide equally regardless of gender. They are blocked by any descendant and by the father or paternal grandfather.
Real estates combine heirs — the calculator resolves the precise fractions for your family
Direct answer
How much does a maternal half-siblings inherit in Islam?
Maternal half-siblings (brothers or sisters who share only the mother) take a fixed 1/6 if one, or share 1/3 equally if two or more. Uniquely, they divide equally regardless of gender. They are blocked by any descendant and by the father or paternal grandfather.
Maternal half-siblings (brothers or sisters who share only the mother) take a fixed 1/6 if one, or share 1/3 equally if two or more. Uniquely, they divide equally regardless of gender. They are blocked by any descendant and by the father or paternal grandfather.
- One maternal half-sibling → 1/6
- Two or more maternal half-siblings → 1/3 (shared)
- Deceased left a descendant, father, or paternal grandfather → Blocked
- 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 Maternal half-siblings's Quranic Share by Situation
The basis is Surah An-Nisa 4:12. The share depends on which other heirs survive the deceased:
| Situation | Share | Note |
|---|---|---|
| One maternal half-sibling | 1/6 | A fixed sixth (4:12). |
| Two or more maternal half-siblings | 1/3 (shared) | Divided equally — male and female alike. |
| Deceased left a descendant, father, or paternal grandfather | Blocked | Any of these excludes them entirely. |
When the Share Changes or Is Blocked
Maternal half-siblings are blocked by any child or grandchild of the deceased and by the father or paternal grandfather. Unlike all other siblings, when they inherit they share equally without the 2:1 male-to-female ratio.
Example: a woman dies leaving a husband, her mother, and two maternal half-brothers
The husband takes 1/2, the mother takes 1/6 (two or more siblings screen her down), and the two maternal half-brothers share 1/3 equally. In some configurations the shares total exactly one; in others ʿawl applies. The calculator handles it precisely.
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
The equal, gender-blind 1/6 or 1/3 for maternal half-siblings is one of the most distinctive Faraid rules and is entirely absent from U.S. intestacy. Only an Islamic will preserves it.
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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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