Getting to Know the Science of Faraidh: A Heritage Directly Arranged by Allah

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Among all branches of jurisprudence, inheritance law occupies a special position: its parts are stipulated directly by Allah in the Qur'an, detailed down to the numbers. The inheritance verses in surah An-Nisa' verses 11, 12, and 176 mention the shares of children, parents, spouses, and siblings — then close with a stirring warning: these are Allah's limits, and whoever obeys them will be admitted to heaven. The science of this division is called the science of faraidh, from the word faridhah which means a predetermined part. Scholars called it half a science — partly explained because it concerns two human states, life and death — and generations of companions placed great emphasis on studying it. Why is inheritance so important that God himself divides it? Because inheritance is a vulnerable point: it is where a harmonious family can be divided, and the weak — orphans, widows — are most easily wronged. With division from heaven, there is no room for power, gender, or birth order to usurp each other. All are subject to the same provisions. Before the inheritance is divided, there is an order that must be fulfilled from the inheritance: costs for handling the body, paying off the deceased's debts, then the will - a maximum of one third of the assets and not allowed for heirs. Then the rest is distributed to the heirs according to faraidh. In this day and age, many Muslim families postpone the division of inheritance for years, or divide it according to feelings. In fact, delaying without reason and changing parts without the consent of all parties is the door to disputes and sin. Learning the basics of faraidh — or at least knowing when to ask an expert — is part of our mandate to our family. ULYAH also provides an Inheritance Calculator in the main menu to help calculate shares according to sharia provisions.