ʿAwl (Proportional Reduction)
عول
Pronunciation: AWL
Proportional reduction of inheritance shares when the fixed fractions add up to more than the whole estate.
Definition
ʿAwl is the adjustment in Islamic inheritance (Faraid) used when the sum of the fixed Quranic shares exceeds the whole estate (more than 1). All shares are scaled down proportionally so they fit within the estate. For example, a husband (1/2) and two full sisters (2/3 combined) together claim 7/6 of the estate; under ʿawl the husband's share is reduced to 3/7 and the sisters' combined share to 4/7.
ʿAwl ensures every entitled heir still receives a fair, proportionate portion rather than some heirs being excluded. It is the mirror image of radd (the return of a surplus) and, alongside hajb (blocking), is one of the mechanisms that make Faraid mathematically precise.
Related Terms
Faraidفرائض
Islamic inheritance law prescribing fixed shares for heirs based on Quranic guidelines.
Radd (Return)رد
The return of a leftover surplus to the fixed-share heirs when no residuary heir exists.
Hajb (Blocking)حجب
The rule in Islamic inheritance by which a nearer heir reduces or excludes a more distant one.
ʿAsaba (Residuary Heirs)عصبة
Residuary heirs in Islamic inheritance who take whatever remains after the fixed-share heirs are paid.
Ta'sibتَعْصِيب
Residuary inheritance in Islamic law — the heirs who take the balance of the estate after Qur'anic shares are paid.
Ahl al-Fara'idأَهْل الْفَرَائِض
The heirs whose shares of the estate are fixed by the Qur'an — typically the spouse, children, parents, and siblings.
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ʿAwl (Proportional Reduction) (عول) — Proportional reduction of inheritance shares when the fixed fractions add up to more than the whole estate. ʿAwl is the adjustment in Islamic inheritance (Faraid) used when the sum of the fixed Quranic shares exceeds the whole estate (more than 1). All shares are scaled down proportionally so they fit within the estate.
- Proportional reduction of inheritance shares when the fixed fractions add up to more than the whole estate.
- Category: Estate Planning
- Related: Faraid, Radd (Return), Hajb (Blocking), ʿAsaba (Residuary Heirs), Ta'sib, Ahl al-Fara'id
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Reviewed by: HalalWallet Editorial Team
Last reviewed: 2026-07-01
Editorial Team, HalalWallet
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