The core memorization work of faraidh is in this chapter: six fractions from the Qur’an (1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 2/3, 1/3, 1/6), who can receive each one, and under what condition. Tashil al-Faraidh presents these per heir; here they are presented in both directions — by fraction and by person — so you can cross-check either way.
Map of the six furudh
flowchart TB
classDef furud fill:#1e3a8a,stroke:#3b82f6,color:#dbeafe
classDef orang fill:#134e4a,stroke:#14b8a6,color:#ccfbf1
F12["1/2"]:::furud --> A1["Husband (deceased has no descendants)"]:::orang
F12 --> A2["1 daughter"]:::orang
F12 --> A3["1 son's daughter*"]:::orang
F12 --> A4["1 full sister*"]:::orang
F12 --> A5["1 paternal half-sister*"]:::orang
F14["1/4"]:::furud --> B1["Husband (there are descendants)"]:::orang
F14 --> B2["Wife (no descendants)"]:::orang
F18["1/8"]:::furud --> C1["Wife (there are descendants)"]:::orang
F23["2/3"]:::furud --> D1["2+ daughters"]:::orang
F23 --> D2["2+ son's daughters*"]:::orang
F23 --> D3["2+ full sisters*"]:::orang
F23 --> D4["2+ paternal half-sisters*"]:::orang
F13["1/3"]:::furud --> E1["Mother (full conditions below)"]:::orang
F13 --> E2["2+ maternal half-siblings"]:::orang
F16["1/6"]:::furud --> G1["Father & mother (there are descendants)"]:::orang
F16 --> G2["Grandfather · grandmother"]:::orang
F16 --> G3["Son's daughter (as a completing share)"]:::orang
F16 --> G4["Paternal half-sister (as a completing share)"]:::orang
F16 --> G5["1 maternal half-sibling"]:::orang
* subject to the “alone in their path” condition detailed in the table below. “Descendants” throughout this chapter means inheriting descendants: children or grandchildren through a son, whether male or female.
Table by heir (must be memorized)
Husband and wife
| Heir | Share | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Husband | 1/2 | The deceased has no descendants |
| Husband | 1/4 | The deceased has descendants |
| Wife (1–4 people, sharing equally) | 1/4 | The deceased has no descendants |
| Wife | 1/8 | The deceased has descendants |
Father, mother, grandfather, grandmother
| Heir | Share | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Father | 1/6 | There are male descendants (son/son’s son) |
| Father | 1/6 + remainder | There are only female descendants |
| Father | ’ashabah (the full remainder) | There are no descendants |
| Mother | 1/6 | There are descendants, OR there are 2+ siblings of the deceased (of any kind, even if they themselves are blocked out) |
| Mother | 1/3 | There are no descendants and no 2+ siblings |
| Mother | 1/3 of the remainder | The special ‘Umariyyatain case: together with the father + a spouse only (chapter 08) |
| Grandfather (paternal) | like the father | When the father is not present; his interaction with siblings is covered in chapter 08 |
| Grandmother (one or more, sharing 1/6) | 1/6 | The mother is not present (maternal-line grandmother); the father is not present (paternal-line grandmother, according to the view that permits a grandmother alongside her own child, detailed in the fiqh books; the primary text simplifies: the grandmother is blocked out by the mother) |
Daughters and son’s daughters
| Heir | Share | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| 1 daughter | 1/2 | There is no son (if there is, she becomes ‘ashabah bil-ghair at 2:1 — chapter 04) |
| 2+ daughters | 2/3 | Same |
| 1 son’s daughter | 1/2 | There are no children at all, and no son’s son |
| 2+ son’s daughters | 2/3 | Same |
| Son’s daughter(s) (any number) | 1/6 | Together with 1 daughter — completing the 2/3 (1/2 + 1/6); based on Ibn Mas’ud’s ruling, which cites the Prophet’s ﷺ ruling (Bukhari no. 6736) |
| Son’s daughter | blocked out | There is a son, or there are 2 daughters (unless the son’s daughter has a “helper” son’s son — chapter 04) |
Siblings
| Heir | Share | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| 1 full sister | 1/2 | Kalalah (no descendants and no father), alone, no full brother |
| 2+ full sisters | 2/3 | Same |
| 1 paternal half-sister | 1/2 | Same as above + no full sibling |
| 2+ paternal half-sisters | 2/3 | Same |
| Paternal half-sister | 1/6 | Together with 1 full sister — completing the 2/3, analogous to the son’s daughter |
| 1 maternal half-sibling (male = female!) | 1/6 | Kalalah; the maternal path is unique: male and female get an equal share (An-Nisa 12) |
| 2+ maternal half-siblings | 1/3 (shared equally, male = female) | Same |
The maternal path is the only place in faraidh where a male does not get twice a female’s share — they inherit purely through the mother’s line, so they are treated equally.
Three patterns that make memorization easier
- A spouse’s share halves when there are descendants: husband 1/2→1/4; wife 1/4→1/8.
- “1 person = 1/2, two or more = 2/3” applies uniformly to 4 groups of women: daughters, son’s daughters, full sisters, paternal half-sisters.
- 1/6 is the “companion” fraction: father/mother when there are children, grandfather/grandmother, and the two “2/3-completers” (son’s daughter alongside a daughter; paternal half-sister alongside a full sister).
All the claims in this table come from the ashabul furudh section of the Tashil al-Faraidh primary text (two dense pages Ibn Uthaymin deliberately organized by person), and their explanation in Ash-Sharh al-Mumti’.
Sources: QS. An-Nisa 11, 12, 176; Tashil al-Faraidh, ashabul furudh section (Shamela 11095 p. 35–36); Bukhari 6736 (the son’s daughter 1/6 case). Full list in 15-references.