Inheritance
Laws of Inheritance during Bahá'í Dispensation (for intestate cases)[edit]
See Kitáb-i-Aqdas, par. 20-29 and notes.
See son on the special rights of the eldest son.
"To divide the inheritance as it is prescribed by Bahá'u'lláh we have to divide it into 2,520 shares. But we can also divide it into 42 shares. Then every one of the beneficiaries will take so many of these shares. These numbers form like a highest denominator for the different fractions which represent the shares of the different individuals that will benefit in case of intestacy. In case of the non-existence of one class of inheritors the Aqdas mentions how it should be divided. As a general rule a part goes to the House of Justice, a part to the children."
- (Directives from the Guardian, no. 104, p. 39)
See also[edit]
Todos for this section[edit]
- Incorporate Aqdas quotes , https://bahai-library.com/bahaullah_synopsis_codification#note25 , and https://bahai-library.com/abdul-baha_inheritance_bwc
A wealthy man bequeathing part of his money to the poor and miserable may be forgiven in the next world[edit]
"If a wealthy man at the time of his death bequeaths a gift to the poor and miserable, and gives a part of his wealth to be spent for them, perhaps this action may be the cause of his pardon and forgiveness, and of his progress in the Divine Kingdom."
- ('Abdu'l-Bahá, Some Answered Questions, pp. 231)
Laws of Inheritance during Islámic Dispensation[edit]
"GOD hath thus commanded you concerning your children. A male shall have as much as the share of two females: but if they be females only, and above two in number, they shall have two third parts of what the deceased shall leave; and if there be but one, she shall have the half. And the parents of the deceased shall have each of them a sixth part of what he shall leave, if he have a child; but if he have no child, and his parents be his heirs, then his mother shall have the third part. And if he have brethren, his mother shall have a sixth part, after the legacies which he shall bequeath, and his debts be paid. Ye know not whether your parents or your children be of greater use unto you. This is an ordinance from GOD, and GOD is knowing and wise.
"They also shall have the fourth part of what ye shall leave, in case ye have no issue; but if ye have issue, then they shall have the eighth part of what ye shall leave, after the legacies which ye shall bequeath, and your debts be paid.
"And if a man or woman's substance be inherited by a distant relation, and he or she have a brother or sister; each of them two shall have a sixth part of the estate. But if there be more than this number, they shall be equal sharers in a third part, after payment of the legacies which shall be bequeathed, and the debts,
"without prejudice to the heirs. This is an ordinance from GOD: and GOD is knowing and gracious.
"These are the statutes of GOD. And whoso obeyeth GOD and his apostle, God shall lead him into gardens wherein rivers flow, they shall continue therein forever; and this shall be great happiness.
"But whoso disobeyeth GOD, and his apostle, and transgresseth his statutes, God shall cast him into hell fire; he shall remain therein forever, and he shall suffer a shameful punishment."
"They ask thee for a legal decision. Say: God directs (thus) about those who leave no descendants or ascendants as heirs. If it is a man that dies, leaving a sister but no child, she shall have half the inheritance: If (such a deceased was) a woman, who left no child, Her brother takes her inheritance: If there are two sisters, they shall have two-thirds of the inheritance (between them): if there are brothers and sisters, (they share), the male having twice the share of the female. Thus doth God make clear to you (His law), lest ye err. And God hath knowledge of all things."
Summary of law of inheritance in Islámic Dispensation[edit]
Outline of Qur'ánic Quotation #2[edit]
(The following is a tentative outline; please verify its accuracy by referring to the first quotation above)
- A male shall have twice as much as females (when there are both to inherit)
- If there are only females:
- If there are above two females, they will inherit 2/3.
- If there is only one female, she inherits 1/2
- If a man has a child, his parents to inherit 1/6
- If a man has no children, and his parents are his heirs (?), his mother shall inherit 1/3.
- If a man has brethren (and no children?), his mother will inherit 1/6 after his legacies and debts.
- If a man has no children, parents will inherit 1/4
- If a man has children, parents will inherit 1/8 after his legacies and debts.
- If a man or woman's substance is to be inherited by a distant relation:
- If there is one brother or one sister, each will have 1/6.
- If there are more than one sibling, each will share 1/3 after legacies and debts
Outline of Qur'ánic Quotation #2[edit]
- If a man dies with no child:
- Any sisters will receive half of the inheritance
- If a woman dies with no child:
- If there is a (single) brother, he will take the inheritance
- If there are two sisters, they shall have 2/3 of the inheritance divided between them
- If there are brothers and sisters, the male shall have twice the share of the female (of the entire amount?)
See also[edit]
To-dos for this page[edit]
- Elaborate the Baha'i laws on this page
