Halaqa

My wife and I married a long time ago. Alhamdullilah, we have been blessed with beautiful children and abundant wealth. I know that under the Sharī‘a inheritance rules, my wife will only receive 1/8 of my estate when I pass. I do not want to violate Islamic law. What can I do to protect my wife and make sure she is financially secure if I predecease her?

I am an estate-planning attorney. American law gives a wife up to 1/2 of her husband’s estate. A wife, according to Islamic law, receives 1/8 of the estate if there are children or 1/4 if there are no children. This issue is very sensitive for my Muslim American clients because a wife would have to waive her 1/2 share of the estate. Many of my clients choose to prepare a partial Islamic will in order to leave the wife’s 1/2 intact. Are there any Sharī‘a-compliant solutions to this concern?

Why does a son receive double the share of a daughter?

I have a grandchild, but his father, my son, predeceased me. Will my grandchild receive his inheritance?

I have a child born outside of marriage. Does this child inherit according to Islamic law? Is there a way to give them a portion of my estate without violating Sharī‘a

I own a home with my wife. If I die, my interest in the house goes to my wife. My other Islamic heirs will not share in the home. Does that violate Sharī‘a?

I hear my dad say that he follows the Hanafi maḏhab. What does that actually mean? 

Can my spouse and I make a joint Islamic will?

I heard that a non-Muslim is not entitled to inherit from a Muslim. Is that true?

If my wife passes away and I receive her share of the marital residence at the time of her death, does that violate Islamic law?