Question:
A man’s maternal grandfather and grandmother have passed away. They had five children: one son and four daughters. During his lifetime, the grandfather legally transferred all the shops into the son’s name. Later, he transferred two houses into his wife’s (the grandmother’s) name with the intention that the daughters may benefit from them in the future.
According to Islamic inheritance law, how should the houses (which were in the grandmother’s name) be distributed among one son and four daughters?
Answer:
he says that his maternal grandfather and grandmother have passed away. There were five children: one son and four daughters.
The grandfather, while alive, wrote all the shops in the son’s name. Later, he wrote two houses in his wife’s (grandmother’s) name, intending that daughters may get them later.
Now the grandmother has died. The son is living in one house and collecting rent from the other. He is refusing to give shares to the sisters. He says he will give ₹3 lakhs per head.
Regarding the shops, they were written legally in the son’s name during the grandfather’s lifetime, they belong to him. That is valid.
But the houses written in the grandmother’s name now become her estate after her death. That estate must be divided according to Islamic law.
Islamic inheritance rule: one son and four daughters.
Total shares = 6 parts.
The son gets 2 shares.
Each daughter gets 1 share.
So divide the total property value into 6 parts.
Each daughter receives one share.
The son receives two shares.
If the total value is ₹70 lakhs:
Divide by 6 = approximately ₹11–12 lakhs per share.
Each daughter gets about ₹12 lakhs.
The son gets about ₹24 lakhs.
If he offers only ₹3 lakhs each, that means he is undervaluing the property.
If agreement cannot be reached, mediation through elders or Jamaat can be done. The property cannot be sold without all heirs’ consent. The sisters have legal claim.
If the property’s actual value is low (say ₹18–20 lakhs total), then ₹3 lakhs per daughter may be correct. It depends on proper valuation.
So first determine the correct market value. Then divide into six shares accordingly.
That is the ruling.