Is inheritance injustice… or part of a complete system?
A common question is often asked: Why does a woman inherit half of what a man does? But the question is often taken out of context. Islam does not treat inheritance as an isolated number. It is part of a complete financial system. In Islamic law: The man is obligated to provide for his wife. He must give a dowry.
“He must provide for his children. He must financially support his family. (Men are in charge of women)[AN-NISĀ-34] This responsibility is not a privilege. It is an obligation. As for the woman, her wealth is entirely her own.
Her financial independence is preserved. No one has the right to take from her wealth without her consent. If we consider: the man’s full financial responsibility, the woman’s financial independence, and her lack of obligation to spend, it becomes clear that inheritance is not a male preference. It is a distribution of responsibilities.
Also, the rule of “half” is not absolute. In some cases, a woman inherits equal to a man, in others more than him, and in some cases she inherits while a man does not. Justice in Islam does not mean identical shares. It means giving each party what suits their role and responsibility.