II.   CATEGORIES AND CLASSES OF LEGAL HEIRS UNDER THE SUNNI MUSLIM LAWS

 (A) THE PRINCIPAL CLASSES:

The following three classes of heirs may be termed as principal classes of legal heirs. The heirs included in any of the following classes are related to the propositus by blood except the husband and widow who are related through marriage. 

 (1) Sharers or Quranic Heirs:

Sharers are those heirs who are entitled to get a prescribed share from the heritable property. The Sharers and their respective shares in the property of a deceased are given in Quran. The Sharers are, therefore, also called as Quranic heirs.

In the distribution of property, the Sharers get preference over the other class of heirs, therefore, first of all the respective share is allotted to each Sharer. It may be noted that Sharers are those heirs whose respective shares are given in Quran; therefore, their shares cannot be altered by any human effort.

(2) Residuaries or Agnatic Heirs:

Residuaries are those heirs who inherit only the residue of the property after allotment of respective shares to the Sharers. Obviously, the Residuaries have no specific share of their own. After giving the property to the Sharers in their fixed shares, if there remains some property that ‘remaining property’ (residue) is available to the Residuaries.

The residue may differ from case to case. If there are no Sharers, the whole is inherited by the Residuaries. Residuary heirs are also termed as Agnatic heirs because they inherit through male relations.

(3) Distant Kindred or Uterine Heirs:

All those persons who are related to propositus through blood but could not be included as heirs in the class of Sharers or of Residuaries, are called distant kindred. If a propositus has neither Sharers nor Residuaries, the properties are inherited by his Distant Kindred. Distant Kindreds cannot inherit in presence of any Sharer or Residuary. The heirs included in this class are also termed as uterine heirs.

(B) Subsidiary Classes:

Besides the above-mentioned three classes of heirs, there are four more categories of legal heirs. The heirs included in any of the following classes are called subsidiary heirs and inherit only in exceptional cases;

(1) Successor by contract

(2) Acknowledged kinsman

(3) Universal legatee, and

(4) The State (through the process of escheat).

Scheme of Distribution:

In the distribution of property among legal heirs of a Sunni propositus, the following scheme is followed. First of all, it is ascertained as to who are the Sharers (Quranic heirs) of the deceased. After ascertaining the Sharers, their respective shares, which are already fixed for them, is allotted to each of them. If the whole property exhausts after distribution of the shares among each of them, the process of distribution does not proceed further.

But, if there still remains some property, then the second step is to distribute the “remaining property” (residue) among the Residuaries who constitute Class II of legal heirs. However, where a propositus has no Sharers at all, the whole property is inherited directly by the Residuaries. If the propositus has neither any Sharer’ nor any Residuary then, in the third instance, the property is distributed among the Distant Kindreds.

It is to be noted that a Distant Kindred cannot inherit in presence of any heir belonging to the class of Sharers or Residuaries. Where a propositus has no heir belonging to any of the three principal classes (although such cases are rare) the property devolves directly upon the successive subsidiary heirs, one by one in the order of priority.

In other words, if a propositus has no Sharer, Residuary or a Distant Kindred as his heir, his property is inherited by a successor by contract, if any, and in his absence, by an acknowledged kinsman, if there be any and, in his absence, too, it is inherited by the universal legatee if there is such a legatee under any will left by the deceased.

But, if there is none from among the above mentioned classes of heirs, the properties of the deceased are ultimately inherited by the State. State is the ultimate heir of every propositus.

However, the practical allotment of respective shares to each legal heir is not as simple as it appears from the scheme of distribution stated above. There are various rules and exceptions which make the distribution difficult. For instance, there are rules of exclusions under which one heir (of the same class) may be excluded by the presence of some other heir.

In certain cases, an heir may not be totally excluded but, his share, may be reduced in presence of some other heir. Moreover, in some cases an heir may inherit in double capacity e.g. father is a Sharer but, in certain cases he inherits also as a Residuary. In the following lines attempt has been made to enumerate the heirs of each class, their respective shares and, the rules relating to the distribution of properties among them.

The Sharers: Class I Heirs:

Sharers or the Quaranic heirs are Class I legal heirs of a propositus. The legal heirs of this class get preference over heirs of other classes. When the inheritance opens, following facts are to be ascertained: (1) Who are the heirs of Class I, i.e. who are the Quranic heirs of the propositus? (2) What is the respective share of such heir or heirs? (3) Whether such heir is excluded by, or his share is reduced, in presence of any other heir of the same class? (4) Any other fact which may affect his inheritance. On the basis of these facts, the heritable property is distributed first of all, among his Sharers.

The Sharers, their respective shares and the conditions under which they inherit, is given in brief in the list given below. It is to be noted that the relations mentioned in the list are relations of the propositus e.g. widow means widow of the propositus or, child means child of the propositus etc.

a. Relations by Affinity:

I. Husband:

(i) The husband gets 1/2 if there is no (a) child or, (b) child of son how low soever (hereinafter called h.l.s.)

(ii) The husband gets 1/4 if there is (a) child, or (b) child of son h. l.s.

That is to say, in the absence of children, the husband’s share is 1/2 whereas; in the presence of children his share is 1/4.

II. Widow:

وَلَكُمْ نِصْفُ مَا تَرَكَ اَزْوَاجُكُمْ اِنْ لَّمْ يَكُنْ لَّھُنَّ وَلَدٌ ۚ فَاِنْ كَانَ لَھُنَّ وَلَدٌ فَلَكُمُ الرُّبُعُ مِمَّا تَرَكْنَ مِنْۢ بَعْدِ وَصِيَّةٍ يُّوْصِيْنَ بِھَآ اَوْ دَيْنٍ ۭوَلَھُنَّ الرُّبُعُ مِمَّا تَرَكْتُمْ اِنْ لَّمْ يَكُنْ لَّكُمْ وَلَدٌ ۚ فَاِنْ كَانَ لَكُمْ وَلَدٌ فَلَھُنَّ الثُّمُنُ مِمَّا تَرَكْتُمْ مِّنْۢ بَعْدِ وَصِيَّةٍ تُوْصُوْنَ بِھَآ اَوْ دَيْنٍ ۭ وَاِنْ كَانَ رَجُلٌ يُّوْرَثُ كَلٰلَةً اَوِ امْرَاَةٌ وَّلَهٗٓ اَخٌ اَوْ اُخْتٌ فَلِكُلِّ وَاحِدٍ مِّنْهُمَا السُّدُسُ ۚ فَاِنْ كَانُوْٓا اَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذٰلِكَ فَھُمْ شُرَكَاۗءُ فِي الثُّلُثِ مِنْۢ بَعْدِ وَصِيَّةٍ يُّوْصٰى بِھَآ اَوْ دَيْنٍ ۙغَيْرَ مُضَاۗرٍّ ۚ وَصِيَّةً مِّنَ اللّٰهِ ۭ وَاللّٰهُ عَلِيْمٌ حَلِيْمٌ۔12 النساء

تمہاری بیویاں جو چھوڑ مریں اور ان کی اولاد نہ ہو تو آدھوں آدھ تمہارا اگر ان کی اولاد ہو تو ان کے چھوڑے ہوئے مال میں سے تمہارے لئے چوتھائی حصہ ہے  اس کی وصیت کی ادائیگی کے بعد جو وہ کر گئیں ہوں یا قرض کے بعد۔ اور جو (ترکہ) تم چھوڑ جاؤ اس میں سے ان کے لئے چوتھائی ہے اگر تمہاری اولاد نہ ہو اور اگر تمہاری اولاد ہو تو پھر انہیں تمہارے ترکہ کا آٹھواں حصہ ملے گا  اس وصیت کے بعد جو تم کر گئے ہو اور قرض کی ادائیگی کے بعد۔ اور جن کی میراث لی جاتی ہے وہ مرد یا عورت کلالہ ہو یعنی اس کا باپ بیٹا نہ ہو  اور اس کا ایک بھائی اور ایک بہن ہو  تو ان دونوں میں سے ہر ایک کا چھٹا حصہ اگر اس سے زیادہ ہوں تو ایک تہائی میں سب شریک ہیں  اس وصیت کے بعد جو کی جائے اور قرض کے بعد  جب کہ اوروں کا نقصان نہ کیا گیا ہو  یہ مقرر کیا ہوا اللہ تعالٰی کی طرف سے ہے اور اللہ تعالٰی دانا ہے بردبار۔

And for you is half of what your wives leave if they have no child. But if they have a child, for you is one fourth of what they leave, after any bequest they [may have] made or debt. And for the wives is one fourth if you leave no child. But if you leave a child, then for them is an eighth of what you leave, after any bequest you [may have] made or debt. And if a man or woman leaves neither ascendants nor descendants but has a brother or a sister, then for each one of them is a sixth. But if they are more than two, they share a third, after any bequest which was made or debt, as long as there is no detriment [caused]. [This is] an ordinance from Allah , and Allah is Knowing and Forbearing.

(1) The widow gets 1/4 if there is no (a) child, or (b) child of son h.l.s.

(2) The widow gets 1/8 if she is with (a) child, or (b) child of son h.l.s.

(3) If the propositus had left more than one widowed, all the widows share equally out of the 1/4 or 1/8 share, as the case may be.

b. Relations by Blood:

1. يُوْصِيْكُمُ اللّٰهُ فِيْٓ اَوْلَادِكُمْ ۤ لِلذَّكَرِ مِثْلُ حَظِّ الْاُنْثَيَيْنِ ۚ فَاِنْ كُنَّ نِسَاۗءً فَوْقَ اثْنَتَيْنِ فَلَھُنَّ ثُلُثَا مَا تَرَكَ ۚ وَاِنْ كَانَتْ وَاحِدَةً فَلَھَا النِّصْفُ ۭ وَلِاَبَوَيْهِ لِكُلِّ وَاحِدٍ مِّنْهُمَا السُّدُسُ مِمَّا تَرَكَ اِنْ كَانَ لَهٗ وَلَدٌ ۚ فَاِنْ لَّمْ يَكُنْ لَّهٗ وَلَدٌ وَّوَرِثَهٗٓ اَبَوٰهُ فَلِاُمِّهِ الثُّلُثُ ۚ فَاِنْ كَانَ لَهٗٓ اِخْوَةٌ فَلِاُمِّهِ السُّدُسُ مِنْۢ بَعْدِ وَصِيَّةٍ يُّوْصِيْ بِھَآ اَوْ دَيْنٍ ۭ اٰبَاۗؤُكُمْ وَاَبْنَاۗؤُكُمْ لَا تَدْرُوْنَ اَيُّھُمْ اَقْرَبُ لَكُمْ نَفْعًا ۭ فَرِيْضَةً مِّنَ اللّٰهِ ۭاِنَّ اللّٰهَ كَانَ عَلِيْمًا حَكِـيْمًا۔11النساء

اللہ تعالٰی تمہیں اولاد کے بارے میں حکم کرتا ہے کہ ایک لڑکے کا حصہ دو لڑکیوں کے برابر ہے  اور اگر صرف لڑکیاں ہی ہوں اور دو سے زیادہ ہوں تو انہیں مال متروکہ کا دو تہائی ملے گا  اور اگر ایک ہی لڑکی ہو تو اس کے لئے آدھا ہے اور میت کے ماں باپ میں سے ہر ایک لئے اس کے چھوڑے ہوئے مال کا چھٹا حصہ ہے اگر اس میت کی اولاد ہو  اگر اولاد نہ ہو اور ماں باپ وارث ہوتے ہوں تو اس کی ماں کے لئے تیسرا حصہ ہے  ہاں اگر میت کے کئی بھائی ہوں تو پھر اس کی ماں کا چھٹا حصہ ہے  یہ حصے اس کی وصیت (کی تکمیل) کے بعد ہیں جو مرنے والا کر گیا ہو یا ادائے قرض کے بعد تمہارے باپ ہوں یا تمہارے بیٹے تمہیں نہیں معلوم کہ ان میں سے کون تمہیں نفع پہنچانے میں زیادہ قریب ہے  یہ حصے اللہ تعالٰی کی طرف سے مقرر کردہ ہیں بیشک اللہ تعالٰی پورے علم اور کامل حکمتوں والا ہے۔

Allah instructs you concerning your children: for the male, what is equal to the share of two females. But if there are [only] daughters, two or more, for them is two thirds of one's estate. And if there is only one, for her is half. And for one's parents, to each one of them is a sixth of his estate if he left children. But if he had no children and the parents [alone] inherit from him, then for his mother is one third. And if he had brothers [or sisters], for his mother is a sixth, after any bequest he [may have] made or debt. Your parents or your children - you know not which of them are nearest to you in benefit. [These shares are] an obligation [imposed] by Allah . Indeed, Allah is ever Knowing and Wise.

III. Father:

(1) Father without (a) child or, (b) child of son h.l.s is treated as Residuary i.e. ceases to be a Quranic heir and is entitled to get the residue after allotment of shares to other Quranic heirs.

(2) Father together with (a) child, or (b) child of son h.l.s. gets 1/6. In other words, in the absence of children the father becomes a Residuary whereas in presence of the children his share is 1/6.

IV. True Grandfather:

(1) True grandfather is entitled to inherit only in the absence of father. That is to say, if the propositus dies leaving behind both, father and a true grandfather, the true grandfather cannot inherit.

(2) If there is no father, the true grandfather inherits like a father. That is to say, if there is no father, the true grandfather would become Residuary in the absence of children. But, in presence of the children a true grandfather gets 1/6.

V. Mother:

(1) The share of mother is 1/3 in the absence of:

(a) Child, or

(b) Child of a son h.l.s., or

(c) Two full sisters, or

(d) Two full brothers, or

(e) One brother plus one sister, whether full, consanguine or uterine.

In other words, if together with mother there are none of the above-mentioned relations, her share is 1/3.

(2) The share of mother is 1/6 in the presence of:

(a) Child, or

(b) Child of son h.l.s., or

(c) Two full sisters or

(d) Two full brothers, or

(e) One brother plus one sister whether full, consanguine or uterine.

In other words, if there are any one of the above-mentioned relations from (a) to (e) the share of mother is reduced to 1/6.

(3) If mother is with father and there is also widow (or husband) the mother gets 1/3 of what remains after deducting the share of widow (or husband). In this peculiar combination the mother (without children) does not get 1/3 of the whole property because m that case father’s share would become half of mother which is against the general principle that share of a male should be double the share of female.