All lessons

Lesson 8 - Intermediate

Kalalah

What is kalalah and how inheritance is resolved in its cases.

Defining kalalah

A person dies as a kalalah when they leave no descendant (child or son's descendant) and no father or paternal grandfather. Qur'an 4:12 and 4:176 both address inheritance specifically in this condition.

Why it matters

Kalalah is the gateway condition for every sibling category - full, paternal half-, and maternal - to inherit at all. Outside kalalah, no sibling of any kind receives a share.

A worked kalalah case

A husband, one maternal sibling, and one full brother: the husband takes 1/2 (no descendant), the maternal sibling takes 1/6, and the full brother takes the residue, 1/3 - together summing to exactly the whole estate.

Miraath Guide

A trusted guide to Islamic inheritance. Clear. Accurate. Guided.

Qur'an 4:11

يُوصِيكُمُ اللَّهُ فِي أَوْلَادِكُمْ لِلذَّكَرِ مِثْلُ حَظِّ الْأُنثَيَيْنِ

Allah commands you concerning your children: to the male, a share equal to that of two females.

© 2026 Miraath Guide. All rights reserved.

Educational tool - not a substitute for a qualified scholar or legal professional.