logical Reason Why Islam Gives the Man Double the Share of the Woman in Inheritance - Dr Zakir Naik
Dr. Zakir Naik explains the Islamic rationale for men receiving double the inheritance share of women. He argues this is justified because men bear all financial responsibilities in Islam, while women are financially provided for throughout their lives. The disparity in inheritance is framed as compensatory for men's greater financial obligations.
Summary
In this short clip, Dr. Zakir Naik addresses the question of why Islamic inheritance law typically grants men double the share of women, a rule that many view as unequal. He begins by noting a specific example: when there are children, a husband receives 1/4 of the inheritance while a wife receives 1/8, confirming that in most cases the male share is indeed double that of the female.
Dr. Naik's central argument is that this disparity is not inequitable but rather logical when viewed within the broader framework of Islamic financial obligations. In Islam, he asserts, the man is designated as the breadwinner and carries all financial responsibilities. Women, by contrast, are described as being entirely free from financial obligations.
He further explains this across two life stages for a woman. Before marriage, the father and brother are obligated to provide for her lodging, boarding, clothing, and all financial needs. After marriage, that responsibility transfers to the husband and, eventually, the son. The conclusion drawn is that a woman is never required to work for her living — and while she may choose to do so voluntarily, no one can compel her. He characterizes this as a form of financial security built into the Islamic system, which in his view justifies the larger inheritance share allocated to men.
Key Insights
- Dr. Naik argues that in most inheritance cases under Islamic law, the male share is double that of the female — citing the specific example of a husband receiving 1/4 and a wife receiving 1/8 when children are present.
- Dr. Naik claims that Islam places all financial responsibility on men, making them the sole obligatory breadwinners, which he presents as the primary logical justification for the double inheritance share.
- Dr. Naik asserts that before marriage, it is the legal and religious duty of the father and brother to cover all of a woman's financial needs, including lodging, boarding, and clothing.
- Dr. Naik argues that after marriage, the financial duty for a woman shifts entirely to the husband and eventually the son, meaning a woman is never without a male financial guardian responsible for her upkeep.
- Dr. Naik acknowledges that a woman may choose to work voluntarily but contends that she cannot be forced to do so, framing this as evidence that women are 'financially secure' within the Islamic system — in contrast to men who are obligated to earn.
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