Case study

Islamic inheritance: brothers and sisters

Understanding distribution among full, paternal half, and maternal half siblings.

Important definitions

Full siblings: same father AND same mother
Paternal half: same father only
Maternal half: same mother only

Summary of shares

HeirAloneMultiple
Full sister1/22/3 together
Full brotherResidue (Asaba)
Paternal sister1/22/3 together
Maternal sibling1/61/3 together
Calculate this case

Priority rules

Siblings only inherit if there are no descendants or father. The priority order is:

  1. Full siblings (same father and mother) - absolute priority
  2. Paternal half (same father) - if no full siblings
  3. Maternal half (same mother) - special case

Maternal siblings' particularity

Maternal half-siblings have special status:

  • They are equal male/female
  • They can inherit with full siblings
  • They are excluded by descendants and male ascendants

Numerical example

A person dies leaving €120,000, their mother, 2 full sisters and 1 maternal brother:

Calculation for €120,000

Mother (1/6 due to 2+ siblings)20 000 €
2 Full sisters (2/3)80 000 €
Maternal brother (1/6)20 000 €

Total: 1/6 + 2/3 + 1/6 = 6/6 = 100%

Frequently asked questions

Do full siblings exclude paternal half-siblings?

Yes. Full siblings have priority over paternal half-siblings.

Why are maternal siblings equal male/female?

They inherit through maternal link only. The Quran establishes equality.

Does a paternal sister inherit with a full sister?

If a full sister takes 1/2, the paternal sister can take 1/6 to complete the 2/3.