The principal Twelver Shi'i school of law, which differs substantially on inheritance.
In Islamic law
Ja'fari inheritance law organises heirs into classes, with a nearer class excluding a more distant one entirely. It does not apply 'awl in the Sunni manner, and a sole daughter may take the whole estate by radd where Sunni schools would pass a residue to agnates.
In Canadian law
Included because Canada has a substantial Shi'i population, and because a will drafted on Sunni assumptions will not reflect Ja'fari shares. Ask a scholar of your own school.
Across the madhahib
This entry is included for orientation only — the four columns elsewhere on this site are the Sunni schools, and none of them represents the Ja'fari position.
Canadian legal detail
Treadstone Law, an Ontario firm with a wills and estates practice, covers the Canadian side of this in more depth:
- Guardian minor children will ontario
- Contesting a will ontario
- Burden of proof in a will challenge ontario
This entry is general information, not legal or religious advice. Inheritance turns on the exact family circumstances. Confirm Canadian law 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.
- Encyclopaedia of Islam — Brill
- Oxford Islamic Studies / Oxford Reference — Oxford University Press
- Encyclopaedia of Islam — Brill
- Succession Law Reform Act, RSO 1990, c S.26 — Government of Ontario
- Locating wills and documents — Law Society of Ontario
- Shareholders agreement vs will conflicts ontario — Treadstone Law
- Can a will override beneficiary designation ontario — Treadstone Law
- Ontario valid will legal requirements — Treadstone Law
- Recovering expert witness fees costs ontario — Treadstone Law
- Can you challenge a will before the person dies ontario — Treadstone Law
- Wills & estates practice — Treadstone Law