Asabah is the residuary heirs who take what remains after the fixed shares.
The Canadian position
Canadian wills use a residue clause for the same structural purpose but with entirely different beneficiaries.
Canadian law gives effect to whatever a valid will says, so an Islamic concept takes effect here through the drafting rather than automatically.
The Islamic position
Sons, then grandsons, then the father, then brothers and their sons, then paternal uncles.
Confirm the position for your own family and school with a qualified scholar rather than relying on a general summary.
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.
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.
- Surah an-Nisa 4:11 — shares of children and parents — Quran.com
- Surah an-Nisa 4:12 — shares of spouses and uterine siblings — Quran.com
- Surah an-Nisa 4:176 — the kalalah verse — Quran.com
- Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 85: Laws of Inheritance (Faraid) — Sunnah.com
- Sahih Muslim, Book of Inheritance — Sunnah.com
- Research Papers — Cambridge Muslim College
- Research — Cambridge Muslim College
- Academics — Islamic law and theology curriculum — Zaytuna College
- Encyclopaedia of Islam — Brill
- Administering estates — Government of Ontario
- Beneficiary designation conflicts with will ontario — Treadstone Law
- Testator capacity decline updating will ontario — Treadstone Law
- Can i leave out a child from my will ontario — Treadstone Law
- Forged or fraudulent will ontario what to do — Treadstone Law
- How many executors should you name ontario will — Treadstone Law
- Does ontario require a notarized will — Treadstone Law
- Wills & estates practice — Treadstone Law