Unlawful killing bars the killer from inheriting.
In Islamic law
Established across all four schools: a person who unlawfully causes the death of the one they would inherit from is excluded. The schools differ on whether accidental killing also bars.
In Canadian law
Canadian law reaches the same result through the public policy rule against profiting from one's own crime — the 'slayer rule' — applied by courts rather than by statute in most provinces.
No significant difference between the four Sunni schools is recorded on this point in the sources reviewed. Where a specific case turns on it, ask a qualified scholar rather than relying on a general summary.
Canadian legal detail
Treadstone Law, an Ontario firm with a wills and estates practice, covers the Canadian side of this in more depth:
- Improperly executed will ontario formal validity
- Storing and safekeeping a will ontario
- Where to store will safely 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.
- 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
- Encyclopaedia of Islam — Brill
- Canadian Legal Information Institute — CanLII
- Succession Law Reform Act, RSO 1990, c S.26 — Government of Ontario
- Locating wills and documents — Law Society of Ontario
- Vexatious litigant order will dispute ontario — Treadstone Law
- Who can witness a will in ontario — Treadstone Law
- Personal care poa witnessed by whom ontario — Treadstone Law
- Estate trustees power of sale in will vs court approval ontario — Treadstone Law
- Is a will public record in ontario — Treadstone Law
- Wills & estates practice — Treadstone Law