A net estate of $250,000 after funeral expenses, debts and any bequest. Here is what Islamic law does with it, and what Canadian law does.
Under faraid
| Heir | Share | Amount | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full brothers (2) | 4/5 | $200,000 | residue as asabah |
| Full sister (1) | 1/5 | $50,000 | residue as asabah |
Shares total 1. Figures rounded to whole dollars.
Under Canadian law
Ontario distributes to siblings where no spouse, children or parents survive — but divides equally between brothers and sisters.
What makes the difference
Under faraid the brothers take twice the sister's share as residuary heirs. This is the kalalah situation addressed in Surah an-Nisa 4:176.
Real estates involve debts, taxes, beneficiary designations and jointly held property that change the arithmetic substantially. Run your own family through the calculator, then confirm the result with a scholar and a lawyer.
This is legal information only. For advice on your own circumstances, speak to a lawyer.
Citations & sources
Every factual claim on this page traces to a source below. Details change — check the original source before relying on any figure, fee or legal position. Anything under “further reading” is related material, not a source for what is stated here.
- Research Papers — Cambridge Muslim College
- Academics — Islamic law and theology curriculum — Zaytuna College
- Renovatio: The Journal of Zaytuna College — Zaytuna College
- Oxford Islamic Studies / Oxford Reference — Oxford University Press
- Encyclopaedia of Islam — Brill
- 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
- Succession Law Reform Act, RSO 1990, c S.26 — Government of Ontario
- Administering estates — Government of Ontario
- Wills, Estates and Succession Act, SBC 2009, c 13 — BC Laws
- Beneficiary died before me ontario — Treadstone Law
- Business held in a family trust not direct shares — Treadstone Law
- Beneficiary right to information ontario — Treadstone Law
- Ontario intestacy no spouse no children — Treadstone Law
- Preferential share spouse intestacy ontario — Treadstone Law
- Wills & estates practice — Treadstone Law