the mother; the grandmother; the sister; the wife; and the emancipating patroness.

There are five heirs who are never excluded under any circumstances: the two spouses, the two parents, and one’s own child.

Seven never inherit at all: the slave; the mudabbar (a slave set free at the owner’s death); the umm walad (a slave-concubine who has borne her master a child); the mukātab (a slave contracting for his freedom); the killer; the apostate; and anyone of a different religious community.

The closest agnatic heirs are, in the following order: the son, then his son, then the father, then his father, then the full brother, then the paternal brother, then the son of the full brother, then the son of the paternal brother, then the paternal uncle in the same sequence, then his son. If no agnatic heir exists, the emancipating patron inherits.

Section. The fixed shares mentioned in the Book of Allah are six: one-half, one-quarter, one-eighth, two-thirds, one-third, and one-sixth.

One-half is the prescribed share for five: the daughter, the son’s daughter, the full sister, the paternal sister, and the husband when the deceased leaves no child.

One-quarter is the prescribed share for two: the husband when the deceased leaves a child or a son’s grandchild, and the wife (or wives) when the deceased leaves neither child nor son’s grandchild.

One-eighth is the prescribed share for the wife (or wives) when the deceased leaves a child or a son’s grandchild.

Two-thirds is the prescribed share for four: two or more daughters; two or more sons’ daughters; two or more full sisters; and two or more paternal sisters.

One-third is the prescribed share for two: the mother when she is not reduced, and two or more maternal brothers and/or sisters collectively.

One-sixth is the prescribed share for seven: the mother when the deceased leaves a child, a son’s grandchild, or two or more siblings; the grandmother in the absence of the mother; the son’s daughter together with the direct daughter; the sister through the father alongside the full sister; the father when the deceased leaves a child or a son’s grandchild; the grandfather in the absence of the father; and it is