logical Reason Why Islam Gives the Man Double the Share of the Woman in Inheritance - Dr Zakir Naik
Dr. Zakir Naik explains the Islamic inheritance rule giving men double the share of women by arguing that men bear all financial responsibilities in Islam. He contends that since women are financially provided for by male relatives at every stage of life, men require more inheritance to fulfill their obligatory duties.
Summary
In this short clip, Dr. Zakir Naik addresses the question of why Islam prescribes that men receive double the inheritance share of women. He begins by noting the specific rule: in cases where there are children, a husband receives one-quarter and a wife receives one-eighth of an estate, illustrating that in most cases the male share is indeed double that of the female.
Dr. Naik's central argument is rooted in the Islamic concept of financial responsibility. He asserts that in Islam, the man is designated as the breadwinner and carries all financial obligations, while the woman is entirely free from any financial duties or burdens. He frames this as a protective and equitable arrangement rather than a discriminatory one.
He further elaborates by dividing a woman's life into two phases. Before marriage, he argues, it is the legal and religious duty of her father and brothers to fully cover her lodging, boarding, clothing, and all other financial needs. After marriage, that responsibility transfers to her husband and, later, her sons. His conclusion is that because a woman is always financially secured by male relatives, she has less need for inherited wealth, whereas the man needs the greater share to fulfill his mandated financial obligations toward the women in his family.
Key Insights
- Dr. Naik argues that the double inheritance share for men is justified because Islam places all financial responsibility exclusively on men, making the larger share a burden rather than a privilege.
- Dr. Naik cites the specific Quranic inheritance ratios — husband receiving 1/4 and wife receiving 1/8 when children are present — as a concrete example of the double-share rule in practice.
- Dr. Naik claims that before marriage, a woman's financial needs are the legal duty of her father and brothers, covering lodging, boarding, clothing, and all financial aspects.
- Dr. Naik asserts that after marriage, the financial duty shifts entirely to the husband and eventually the son, meaning a woman is never financially responsible for herself at any life stage.
- Dr. Naik acknowledges that a woman may optionally choose to work, but argues no one in Islam can compel her to do so, framing her financial freedom from obligation as a form of security and protection.
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