Mirath - The Laws of Islamic Inheritance

not look at the broader picture. If one considers this, then one will see
that the Isl\mic implications are extremely accommodating (at times
very favourable) of the rights of women.
Isl\m, while allowing women to work, does not impose this upon
them. Isl\m ordains that the responsibility of providing provision and
fulfilling the needs of a woman are given to her male relatives as an
incumbent duty, in this particular order:
Husband - as long as a woman is married, all her needs are to be
fulfilled by her husband.
Son - If a woman is not married but has sons who are capable of
working, the responsibility of providing for her is placed upon her
son(s).
Father - In the absence of the first two, the responsibilities are the
father’s. This is irrespective of the woman’s age.
Brother - If the woman does not have the above’s support for
whatever reason, then the responsibility of her maintenance is
upon her brother (firstly the full brother, then the consanguine,
then the uterine).
At no time does Isl\m impose any sort of expenses upon her, but rather
ensures that all her needs and expenses are catered for, by her male
relatives. It is these same relatives that have a responsibility to look
after her and her female counterparts. Isl\m has given to the males the
advantage of gaining more from the inheritance, coupled with the
added responsibility.
THE `A%AB¬T - RESIDUARY HEIRS
Residuary heirs are predominantly male. The only time when females
are residuary heirs is either if they are sharing with their male
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