Women and Inheritance of Property

RIGHTS AND PROGRESS OF WOMEN property, dispose of it, inherit from their relatives, and keep to themselves their earnings, which they can spend in any way they wish. Women play many societal roles: daughters, sisters, mothers, and wives to men. In their different capacities, they are allowed to share in the properties of their relatives in proportions fixed by the Quran, which is explained in the traditions or legal literature. Most guidance relating to women’s inheritance is contained in the Chapter Women. The Quran says: “Concerning your children, God enjoins you that a male shall receive a share equivalent to that of two females. But if there are more than two females, then their share is two-thirds of the inheritance. If there is only one, she will receive the half.…” (4:11) The next verse of the same chapter deals with the shares of husband or wife: “You will inherit half of what your wives leave, provided they have left no children. But if they leave children, then you inherit a quarter of what they leave after payment of any bequests they may have made or any debts they may have incurred. Your wives shall inherit one-quarter of what you leave if you are childless. But if you leave children, your wives shall inherit one-eighth after payment of any bequest or debts. If a man or woman has no