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Can a killer inherit from their victim?

No, under both systems. Islamic law bars the killer; Canadian courts apply a public policy rule against profiting from one's own crime.

Draft — pending review. This page has been prepared but has not yet been reviewed by a Canadian estates lawyer or a qualified scholar. Treat it as a starting point for questions, not as advice you should act on.

No, under both systems. Islamic law bars the killer; Canadian courts apply a public policy rule against profiting from one's own crime.

The Canadian position

The Canadian rule is largely judge-made rather than statutory in most provinces.

It applies to unlawful killing; the treatment of accidental death differs.

The Islamic position

All four schools bar a killer from inheriting, though they differ on whether accidental killing also bars.

The underlying principle is identical on both sides.

Across the madhahib

The four Sunni schools are not recorded as differing materially on this point in the sources reviewed. Where your own case turns on it, put it to a scholar of your school.

Before you act on this

General information, not legal or religious advice. Inheritance depends entirely on the exact family circumstances. Confirm the Canadian position with a lawyer in your province and any religious ruling with a qualified scholar.

Citations & sources

Every factual claim on this page traces to one of the references below. Legislation and dollar thresholds change — verify against the primary source before relying on any figure.

Islamic primary sources
  1. Surah an-Nisa 4:11 — shares of children and parents — Quran.com
  2. Surah an-Nisa 4:12 — shares of spouses and uterine siblings — Quran.com
  3. Surah an-Nisa 4:176 — the kalalah verse — Quran.com
  4. Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 85: Laws of Inheritance (Faraid) — Sunnah.com
  5. Sahih Muslim, Book of Inheritance — Sunnah.com
Scholarly & institutional references
  1. Research Papers — Cambridge Muslim College
  2. Research — Cambridge Muslim College
  3. Academics — Islamic law and theology curriculum — Zaytuna College
  4. Encyclopaedia of Islam — Brill
Canadian legislation & government
  1. Canadian Legal Information Institute — CanLII
Canadian legal commentary
  1. Litigation 2 — Treadstone Law
  2. Family costs vs civil litigation costs difference — Treadstone Law
  3. Retroactive support claim after child turns 18 — Treadstone Law
  4. Contested divorce process ontario step by step — Treadstone Law
  5. How do costs work in ontario civil litigation — Treadstone Law
  6. Procedure when motion to change is contested — Treadstone Law
  7. Wills & estates practice — Treadstone Law