Intermediate
Inheritance
Surah: An-Nisa (12)
And You Get Half of What Your Wives Leave — Detailed Inheritance of Spouses
وَلَكُمۡ نِصۡفُ مَا تَرَكَ أَزۡوَٰجُكُمۡ إِن لَّمۡ يَكُن لَّهُنَّ وَلَدٌ
— النساء الآية 12
Verse: "And for you is half of what your wives leave — if they have no child." (4:12)
Husband's inheritance: Half if the wife has no child; quarter if she has a child even from another.
Wife's inheritance: Quarter if the husband has no child; eighth if he has a child.
Multiple wives: If a man dies leaving four wives — the quarter (or eighth) is divided equally among them.
Husband's inheritance: Half if the wife has no child; quarter if she has a child even from another.
Wife's inheritance: Quarter if the husband has no child; eighth if he has a child.
Multiple wives: If a man dies leaving four wives — the quarter (or eighth) is divided equally among them.
Source: Al-Qurtubi (5/54); Ibn Qudama (6/147); Al-Rahbiyya
Test Yourself
When does the husband inherit a quarter instead of half? When does the wife inherit an eighth instead of a quarter?
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