As more and more people decide to disinherit children in these modern times, Thasha Aly looks to the traditional Islamic approach on inheritance. What are we supposed to leave to our children? And how can we make sure they are looked after?
During the height of Covid, more and more people were thinking about their mortality. Celebrities soon made the news when some said they wouldn’t be leaving their children their fortunes; rather choosing to spend or give it away in their own lifetimes.
It made me think – from a personal and also an Islamic perspective, how much of our wealth is required to be imparted to our children?
At Waseeya we specialise in memories, because at the end of the day, all we truly leave behind us are our legacies. And our legacy starts with a will. Whether you choose Waseeya’s standard UK, Islamic or bespoke will, the same considerations apply. When it comes to child inheritance, ask yourself:
- What are the needs of your children?
- Have all bills and debts been met?
- Who do I want to be their guardian after I am gone? (Set up guardianship through our web app to avoid any doubt)
- How can I pass on my own advice and oral traditions to my children? I don’t want these to be forgotten.
- Do I need to speak to a lawyer (one of Waseeya’s partner law firms) to set up trusts for my kids?
Now those initial concerns are out the way, let’s get down to the nitty gritty.
According to the Quran and Sunnah, what kind of shares should my children receive?
At Waseeya, we do the heavy lifting so you don’t have to. If you choose the Islamic will, you can use our Islamic Council of Europe approved inheritance calculator to see exactly who is entitled to what.
But, what does the Quran say? Well, there are actually only three specific verses in the Quran that detail the shares of inheritance. These vary, depending on whether or not there are children in a marriage. This is a rough rundown of the distribution according to Islam, bearing in mind that these portions reflect the roles that each individual should have in the family home (and who is expected to provide for whom, all inheritances aside).
- A husband is entitled to 50%, if the dearly departed (DD) has no children (or just 25% if they do).
- A wife would get 25% if the DD has no children, or 12.5% if they do have children.
- A daughter receives 50% if the DD had no other siblings, or 66.6% shared equally if there is more than one daughter, but no sons.
- If there is a son and a daughter, the siblings share the estate with a 2:1 ratio in favour of the sons.
Take my advice
So, we don’t really have this concept of disinheriting your children in Islam, as the celebs seem to be doing nowadays. It’s all very well trying to encourage your children to ‘make it on their own’. But, if you have wealth, then support them in understanding the value of money before you pass it on. One hopes that their inheritance would not hinder them from living life with the right tarbiyah. Ensure you can keep that tarbiyah going (even after you pass) by using Waseeya’s Time Capsule feature to send messages to your children at various junctures in their lives. Consider leaving your own naseehah with this feature too, and pass on any oral traditions that you want to continue, even in your absence. That way, your guidance continues to nurture their path.
So, why not start writing up your Waseeya wishes today? Sign up for free to our app on iOS, Android or www.waseeya.com, and start your cashing your memory bank, now.