SUNNI LAW OF INHERITANCE

Table of sharers
Sharers Normal Share Conditions Variation of
under which the shares
When only one When two or
normal share is
heir is present more heirs are
inherited
present
Husband 1/4 In the presence 1/2 in absence
of a child or of a child or
child of a son child of a son
how low so how low so
ever ever
Wife 1/8 1/8 In the presence 1/4 in absence
of a child or of a child or
child of a son child of a son
how low so how low so
ever ever
Daughter 1/2 2/3 In the absence In presence of a
of a son. son she
becomes a
residuary
Father 1/6 In the presence In absence of a
of a child or child or child of
child of a son a son how low
how low so so ever the
ever father inherits
as a residuary.
Mother 1/6 In the presence 1/3 in the
of a child or a absence of a
child of a son child or child of
how low so a son how low
ever, or two or so ever, and not
more brothers more than one
or sisters, or brother or sister
even one full, (if any); but if
consanguine or the wife or
uterine brother husband and the
and one such father, is also
sister. present, then
only1/3 of what
remains after
deducting the
share of the
spouse.
True 1/6 In the presence In absence of a
grandfather of a child or child or child of
child of a son a son how low
how low so so ever, the true
ever, and in grandfather
absence of the inherits as a
father or a residuary,
nearer true provided there
grandfather. is no father or
nearer true
grandfather.
True 1/6 1/6 A maternal true
grandmother grandmother
takes in
absence of a
mother, and a
nearer true
grandmother
and a paternal
true
grandmother
takes in
absence of a
mother, father,
a nearer true
grandmother
and an
intermediate
true
grandfather.
Son’s daughter 1/2 2/3 In absence of a In absence of a
how low soever son, daughter, a son, higher
higher son’s son’s son, or an
son, higher equal son’s son
son’s daughter, and when there
or an equal is only one
son’s son. daughter, or
higher son’s
daughter the
daughter or
higher son’s
daughter will
take 1/2 and the
son’s daughter
how low so
 ever (whether
one or more)
will take 1/6.
Son’s daughter 1/2 2/3 In absence of a In absence of a
son, daughter, son or son’s son
or son’s son and in presence
of a only one
daughter the
son’s daughter
(whether one or
more) will take
1/6. (In
presence of a
son’s son, she
becomes a
residuary.)
Son’s Son’s 1/2 2/3 In absence of a In absence of a
Daughter son, daughter, son, son’s son
son’s son, son’s or son’s son’s
daughter, or a son and in
son’s son’s son. presence of
only daughter
or son’s
daughter, the
son’s son’s
daughter
(whether one or
more) will take
1/6. (In
presence of a
son’s son’s son
she becomes a
residuary.)
Uterine brother 1/6 1/3 In absence of a
Uterine sister child, child of a
son how low so
ever, father or
true
grandfather.
Full sister 1/2 2/3 In absence of a In presence of a
child, child of a full brother she
son how low so becomes a
ever, father, residuary.
true
 grandfather, full
brother.
Consanguine 1/2 2/3 In absence of a When there is
sister child, child of a only one full
son how low so sister and she
ever, father, succeeds as a
true sharer, the
grandfather, full consanguine
brother, full sister (whether
sister, or one or more )
consanguine will take 1/6, if
brother. she is not
otherwise
excluded. (With
the consanguine
brother she
becomes a
residuary).

Note:
1. A true grandfather is a male ancestor between whom and the intestate no female
intervenes.
2. A true grandmother is a female ancestor, between whom and the intestate no false
grandfather intervenes.