Chapter on the Inheritance of Fathers and Grandfathers

Each of the father and the paternal grandfather receives one sixth as a fixed share (farḍ) when the deceased leaves male children or male grandchildren through a son. This is established by the Divine statement: “Each of his parents shall receive one-sixth of what he leaves, if he had a child” (Qur’an 4:11).

When no child or grandchild through a son exists, the father or grandfather inherits as a residuary heir (taʿṣīb). The evidence is the verse: “If he has no child and his parents inherit from him, then his mother shall have one third” (Qur’an 4:11). Here the inheritance is attributed to both parents; the mother’s portion is fixed, whereas the father’s is left unspecified, so he takes what remains by agnatic succession.

If the heirs include only female descendants—daughters or granddaughters through a son—the father or grandfather takes both the fixed share and the residue. This follows the Prophet’s ﷺ instruction: “Give the prescribed shares to those entitled to them; whatever remains goes to the nearest male heir,” meaning the closest male relative of the deceased. After the son and grandson, the closest male is the father.

In summary, the father’s entitlement falls into three situations:

1. He takes only the fixed share, and this occurs when the deceased is survived by a son born of his own loins, or by a grandson through a son, however remote.