Inheritance
Islamic Inheritance If There Are Only Daughters
By the Editorial Team · reviewed against our sources · updated September 2026 · guidance, not a fatwa
When a person leaves only daughters and no sons, the daughters take a fixed share and the remainder goes to other eligible heirs.
- One daughter: 1/2.
- Two or more daughters: 2/3 shared equally.
Any spouse and parents take their fixed shares. Any residue left after the fixed shares typically passes to the father (or, in his absence, to agnatic relatives such as the deceased’s brothers or grandfather). It does not all go to the daughters by default — a common misunderstanding. Where no residuary heir exists, the surplus may return to the daughters (radd). Work out the exact result in the calculator.
General guidance, not a fatwa. Rulings vary by school of thought (madhhab) and circumstance — confirm with a qualified scholar.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if someone leaves only daughters?
One daughter takes 1/2 and two or more share 2/3; the remaining estate passes to the father or other agnatic relatives, not automatically to the daughters.
Do daughters get everything if there are no sons?
Not by default — they take 1/2 or 2/3, with the residue going to the father or agnates unless no such heir exists (then radd may return it to them).