Inheritance Laws: Difference between revisions

So while Islamic inheritance law stopped the practice of inheriting widows and guaranteed female heirs a share of their deceased male relatives' estates, its also required that one's daughter inherit just half of what one's son would inherit. Thus, while the reforms brought by Islam were progressive by the standards of 7th century Arabia, they stifle the advancement of women's rights today.  

While the specifics of inheritance are outlined in Islamic scriptures in great (and sometimes contradictory) detail, leaving little choice for deliberation, there is a portion of a person's inheritance that they are allowed to distribute as they please - so long as no part of this third is given to a family member whose share is already outlined by the Qur'an (though this requirement can sometimes be overturned if ''all'' inheriting family members agree to allowing some of their group to inherit more than they are due). This segment is called the ''wasiyah'' and can be up to one third of one's estate.