Faraid · Spouse
Wife's Share of Inheritance in Islam: 1/4 or 1/8
A wife inherits 1/4 of her husband's estate if he leaves no children or grandchildren, and 1/8 if he does. If there is more than one wife, they share that single portion equally among them.
Real estates combine heirs — the calculator resolves the precise fractions for your family
Direct answer
How much does a wife inherit in Islam?
A wife inherits 1/4 of her husband's estate if he leaves no children or grandchildren, and 1/8 if he does. If there is more than one wife, they share that single portion equally among them.
A wife inherits 1/4 of her husband's estate if he leaves no children or grandchildren, and 1/8 if he does. If there is more than one wife, they share that single portion equally among them.
- Husband left no children or grandchildren → 1/4
- Husband left children or grandchildren → 1/8
- 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 Wife'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 |
|---|---|---|
| Husband left no children or grandchildren | 1/4 | The full quarter, shared among co-wives if more than one. |
| Husband left children or grandchildren | 1/8 | The eighth, shared among co-wives if more than one. |
When the Share Changes or Is Blocked
A wife is never fully excluded — she is a primary Quranic heir (ashab al-furud). Her share only steps down from 1/4 to 1/8 when the husband leaves descendants. Co-wives split one share between them, not one each.
Example: a husband dies leaving a wife, a son, and a daughter
Because there are children, the wife takes 1/8. The remaining 7/8 passes to the son and daughter as residuary heirs (ʿasaba) in a 2:1 ratio — the son receives twice the daughter's portion. Any deferred mahr the husband still owed her is paid as a debt before this division, on top of her 1/8 inheritance.
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 and community-property rules do not produce these shares. In a community-property state a widow may keep her half of community property and take a large slice of the rest; in others a spousal elective share lets her claim a third or half against any will. None of that matches the Quranic 1/4 or 1/8 — which is why a Muslim husband needs an Islamic will (and, for couples, often a trust) to direct his estate by Faraid.
An Islamic will is the only way to make sure the wife'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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