Muslim Inheritance Jurisprudence Revisited

How should Muslim inheritance rules respond to the realities of modern life? This book explores that question through a concise examination of Islamic inheritance jurisprudence (fiqh al-maw¯ar¯ i th). While traditional inheritance rules have guided Muslim societies for centuries, today’s changing social structures and contemporary legal thought have created new challenges. Bringing together rigorous scholarship with an accessible approach, the book examines the core principles behind Sunni and Shi?i inheritance jurisprudence, highlighting both their shared foundations and important differences. It explores key issues surrounding the distribution of estates among heirs – such as women’s inheritance rights, the position of children and grandchildren, the question of gender, and differences of religion – and sets them within the context of today’s nuclear family. Drawing on evidence from the major schools of Islamic jurisprudence, as well as on current thinking, the author analyses how inheritance rules have been interpreted and applied over time. He also considers why reform may be necessary today and how thoughtful legal development could help better reflect the needs and realities of contemporary Muslim communities. The ebook editions of this book are available open access under a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 licence on bloomsburycollections.com. Open access is funded by The Institute of Ismaili Studies.