Q. My friend, who has two brothers and three sisters, lost his father recently. However, my friend’s grandfather is alive. How is the inheritance to be divided?
G. Khan
A. You have not told me whether the deceased man’s wife has survived him or not. If she is alive, she inherits one-eighth of his property. His father, i.e. your friend’s grandfather, inherits one-sixth, and the remainder is divided into 9 shares, with one share to each of the man’s three daughters and two shares each to his three sons.
This is based on the instructions given in Verses 12-13 of Surah 4, which gives a surviving parent one-sixth of the property in the case where a deceased person has children, and one-eighth to his surviving wife. If the man’s wife is not alive, the whole property is divided in the same manner we have outlined.
Sudden Death
Q. A person who meets sudden death, as in a car accident or from cardiac arrest, does not have a chance to pray for forgiveness. Is this why the Prophet used to seek refuge against sudden death?
M. Sadik
A. A Muslim is always aware of the inevitability of death, realizing that it comes at any moment, without warning. Hence, he always tries to be ready to meet his Lord, should his death come suddenly. You always find good Muslims praying for forgiveness all the time, after every prayer, and in between prayers. This is what the Prophet has taught us. Hence, to a Muslim, there is really no case of death that is unexpected. When you know that your time may be called up at any moment, you will be ready, trying always to do what you can to increase your good deeds, and praying always for forgiveness of any slips.