Mirath

Mirath (Arabic: ميراث) means inheritance or heritage. In Islamic law, mirath refers to the distribution of a deceased person's estate among heirs according to Sharia. The term comes from waritha, to inherit, and appears in juristic texts and everyday usage across Muslim communities.

In fiqh, mirath combines fixed shares (faraid) for certain heirs and residual succession (asaba) for others. The Qur'an specifies obligatory shares for spouses, parents, and children and sets rules for the order of heirs. Before distribution, debts and funeral expenses are settled, and a bequest (wasiyya) up to one-third of the estate may be made to non-heirs if allowed by local law or by the deceased.

Practically, inheritance law varies by country and school of law. Many Muslim-majority jurisdictions codify mirath within personal status or civil codes, sometimes blending Sharia with secular principles. In mixed jurisdictions, non-Muslim or minority groups may follow different inheritance rules, while Muslims generally observe fiqh-based shares.

Mirath is also used as a personal name in various regions, signifying heritage or inheritance.