Aligarh: An important academic programme on “Islamic Inheritance and Islam: A Mathematical Approach” was organised as an Extra-Mural Lecture at the Department of Islamic Studies, Aligarh Muslim University on Feb. 12.
The Chief Guest on the occasion was Dr. Mohammad Razi-ul-Islam Nadwi, Secretary of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind. In his address, he particularly emphasised women’s rights in Islamic inheritance law. He refuted the common misconception that women always receive less than men in Islam. He clarified that in some cases, women receive equal shares to men, in some other cases, women receive more than men, and in certain situations, women inherit while men do not receive any share. Only in some specific cases do women receive less than men.
He stressed that the Islamic system of inheritance must be understood in its entirety, as it is a balanced system based on justice and wisdom.
The lecture was then delivered by Anwar Alam, Director of the Islamic Inheritance Research Centre (IIRC), New Delhi, a well-known researcher and specialist in the field of Islamic inheritance. In his address, he elaborated on the Qur’anic foundations of the Islamic law of inheritance, its mathematical structure, and its practical implementation.
He clarified that before the distribution of a deceased person’s estate, the following matters must be fulfilled:
- Funeral and burial expenses,
- Payment of the outstanding debts of the deceased, if any,
- Fulfilment of the will, if any, and
- Thereafter, distribution of the estate.
He also differentiated between gift (hiba), inheritance (mirath), and will (wasiyyah), explaining their distinct legal positions in Islamic law. He emphasised that while a gift is given during one’s lifetime and inheritance is distributed after death according to fixed Qur’anic shares, an Islamic will cannot exceed one-third and will is not applicable for legal heirs. He further explained the systematic and mathematical method through which inheritance shares are calculated in accordance with Islamic legal principles.
During the programme, book distribution was organised through the Islamic Inheritance Research Centre (IIRC). A total of 300 books were distributed among students, along with 540 awareness folders related to inheritance to promote better understanding of the subject. Additionally, 35 books were presented as gifts to multiple departments of Aligarh Muslim University and various university libraries. The distribution of all books and folders was carried out free of cost.
The books distributed among students included:
- Islamic Laws of Inheritance (English)
- Siraji Se Pehle Riyazi (Urdu)
- Warasat Ki Faryad (Urdu)
The books presented as gifts to university departments and libraries included:
- Muslim Inheritance: Case Studies (English)
- Inheritance Shares of Muslim Women (English)
Among those present on the occasion were Professor Obaidullah Fahad, Professor Mohammad Rashid, Dr. Ubaid Iqbal, Dr. Tanzeel Ahmad, Dr. Nighat Rasheed, Dr. Tausif Ahmad Parray, Dr. Ayesha, Dr. Imtiaz, Dr. Mohammad Salim, along with other faculty members, students, and research scholars of the department.
The programme was presided over by Professor Mufti M. Zahid Ali Khan. Professor Adam Ali Khan, Chairman of the Department of Islamic Studies at AMU, served as the Chief Chairperson of the session.
The programme was coordinated by Professor Ziauddin, Department of Islamic Studies, AMU, who ensured the smooth organisation and successful conduct of the event.
A question-and-answer session was also held, during which practical and academic issues related to inheritance were discussed. The lecture proved to be academically enriching and successfully presented the Islamic system of inheritance as an organised, just, and practically applicable framework.
