Dhawu al-Arham
ذَوُو الْأَرْحَام
Pronunciation: thah-WOO al-ar-HAAM
Distant kindred who inherit only when no Qur'anic or residuary heirs survive.
Definition
Literally "those of the wombs" — the third and most distant tier of Islamic heirs. Dhawu al-Arham inherit only when no Qur'anic heirs (ahl al-fara'id) and no residuary heirs (asaba) survive.
The category includes descendants of daughters (e.g., daughter's children), descendants through female lines on the father's side, and various other non-agnate relatives. The Hanbali, Hanafi, and Shafi'i schools recognize dhawu al-arham inheritance; the classical Maliki position routed the estate to the public treasury (bayt al-mal) instead, though modern Maliki scholars accept dhawu al-arham when no functional Islamic state exists.
Related Terms
Faraidفرائض
Islamic inheritance law prescribing fixed shares for heirs based on Quranic guidelines.
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.
Ta'sibتَعْصِيب
Residuary inheritance in Islamic law — the heirs who take the balance of the estate after Qur'anic shares are paid.
Mirathميراث
Islamic inheritance — the transfer of wealth from a deceased Muslim to rightful heirs according to Shariah.
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Dhawu al-Arham (ذَوُو الْأَرْحَام) — Distant kindred who inherit only when no Qur'anic or residuary heirs survive. Literally "those of the wombs" — the third and most distant tier of Islamic heirs. Dhawu al-Arham inherit only when no Qur'anic heirs (ahl al-fara'id) and no residuary heirs (asaba) survive.
- Distant kindred who inherit only when no Qur'anic or residuary heirs survive.
- Category: Estate Planning
- Related: Faraid, Ahl al-Fara'id, Ta'sib, Mirath
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Reviewed by: HalalWallet Editorial Team
Last reviewed: 2026-07-01
Editorial Team, HalalWallet
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