Tawhid &General Principles of Inheritance (Mirath) – SS1 Islamic Studies Lesson Note (Third Term)

Tawhid is the Islamic belief that Allah is One and that He alone should be worshipped. Mirath is the set of Islamic rules for dividing a dead person’s money and property among family members.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. explain the meaning of Tawhid and Shirk;
2. list and describe the three types of Tawhid;
3. state how Muslims practise Tawhid in daily life;
4. explain what Mirath means and list the basic principles of Islamic inheritance;
5. state the basic shares of the husband, wife, father, mother, daughter and son;
6. explain why sons receive twice the share of daughters.

What is Tawhid?

Tawhid is the belief that Allah is One, with no partner, and that He alone deserves worship.

• Meaning of the word: “Tawhid” comes from the Arabic idea of making something one.
• Place in Islam: it is the most important belief and the first thing a Muslim must believe.
• Shahada: the testimony of faith, “There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah”.
• Link to the Shahada: when Muslims say it, they declare Tawhid.

What are the three types of Tawhid?

There are three types of Tawhid: Tawhid al-Rububiyyah, Tawhid al-Uluhiyyah and Tawhid al-Asma wa al-Sifat.

1. Tawhid al-Rububiyyah (Oneness of Lordship): belief that Allah alone created everything and takes care of all things.
   • He gives life and death.
   • He sends the rain and makes plants grow.
   • Everything happens by His will.
2. Tawhid al-Uluhiyyah (Oneness of Worship): belief that only Allah should be worshipped.
   • We do not pray to anyone else.
   • We do not bow to idols, saints or any created thing.
   • All acts of worship are for Allah alone.
3. Tawhid al-Asma wa al-Sifat (Oneness of Names and Attributes): belief in all the names and qualities of Allah in the Quran and Hadith.
   • Examples are the Most Merciful, the Most Kind and the All-Knowing.
   • No one is like Allah in His perfect qualities.

Why does Tawhid matter?

Tawhid is the foundation of Islam, and all other Islamic teachings are built on it.

• Peace of mind: the believer knows there is only one God to turn to.
• Trust in Allah: the believer knows all power belongs to Allah.
• Right worship: the believer knows only Allah deserves worship.
• Freedom: the believer is not a slave to other people or things.

What is Shirk?

Shirk is giving partners to Allah or worshipping anything besides Him, and it is the biggest sin in Islam.

• Major Shirk: worshipping idols or praying to saints, spirits or other created things.
• Minor Shirk: showing off in worship so that people will praise you (Riya).

How do Muslims practise Tawhid in daily life?

Muslims practise Tawhid by directing their worship, requests and obedience to Allah alone.

• Prayer: they pray only to Allah.
• Asking for help: they ask help directly from Allah.
• Gratitude: they thank Allah for all blessings.
• Obedience: they follow Allah’s rules in the Quran.
• Awareness: they remember that Allah sees everything they do.

What is Mirath (Islamic inheritance)?

Mirath is the Islamic set of rules for sharing the money and property of a dead person among the heirs.

• Source: Allah gave clear rules on who gets what, and they are stated directly in the Quran.
• Estate: everything the dead person owned.
• Heir: a person who has a right to receive a share.
• Wasiyyah: a will, which is the dead person’s wish about how part of the estate is used.

Why do Islamic inheritance rules matter?

The rules share wealth fairly and protect family peace.

• Wide sharing: wealth goes to many family members.
• Peace: it helps prevent quarrels over money after a death.
• Care for all: it provides for both men and women.
• Rights: it respects the rights of everyone in the family.
• No hoarding: it stops all the wealth going to one person.

What are the basic principles of Islamic inheritance?

There are four basic steps to follow before and when the Quranic shares are given out.

1. Pay debts first: all debts of the dead person must be paid before any division.
2. Funeral costs: money for a simple funeral comes next.
3. Follow the will (Wasiyyah): up to one-third of what is left may be given by will.
   • It can go to charity.
   • It can go to people who would not normally inherit.
4. Divide the rest by Islamic law: the remainder (at least two-thirds) is shared by the fixed shares in the Quran.

Who are the heirs?

The Quran names specific relatives who must receive a share, and they are called Quranic heirs.

• Primary heirs: husband or wife, father and mother, sons and daughters.
• Secondary heirs: grandsons and granddaughters, brothers and sisters, grandfathers and grandmothers.
• When secondary heirs inherit: they receive a share if some primary heirs are not there.

What are the basic shares of the heirs?

The basic shares depend on whether the dead person left children.

Why do sons receive twice the share of daughters?

A son receives twice a daughter’s share because men carry more financial duties in an Islamic family.

• Family support: men must provide for their wives and children.
• Mahr: a man must pay the mahr (bridal gift) when he marries.
• Parents: a man must support his parents if they need it.
• Women’s money: a woman keeps all her money for herself and need not spend it on anyone.
• Meaning: the difference reflects duties and does not mean men are worth more.

What are the special cases in inheritance?

Special cases are rules for unusual family situations.

• No children and no father: brothers and sisters inherit.
• Only daughters: the daughters take their fixed shares and the nearest male relatives take the rest.
• Difference of religion: a Muslim and a non-Muslim do not inherit from each other, so a convert cannot inherit from non-Muslim relatives.
• Killing: a killer cannot inherit from the person he or she killed.

How does inheritance work in practice?

Inheritance is shared in six steps.

1. List everything the person owned.
2. Subtract debts and funeral costs.
3. Give up to one-third according to the will.
4. Identify who the heirs are.
5. Calculate each heir’s share according to the Quran and Sunnah.
6. Distribute the property.

What is the wisdom of Islamic inheritance?

The system teaches that property belongs to Allah and must be shared justly.

• Ownership: it accepts that property ultimately belongs to Allah.
• Spread of wealth: wealth is distributed widely and not hoarded.
• Family ties: it recognises family bonds and responsibilities.
• Women’s rights: it gives women their own economic rights.
• Flexibility: fixed shares are balanced by the freedom of a will.
• Link to Tawhid: following these rules is obeying the One God in all matters of life.

Evaluation

1. What does Tawhid mean?
2. Name the three types of Tawhid and explain one of them.
3. What is Shirk?
4. List the four basic principles to follow before the Quranic shares are given out.
5. State the share of a husband and of a wife when the dead person has children.

Assignment

Write a short note that does the following:

• Gives four ways in which a Muslim practises Tawhid in daily life.
• Explains why a son receives twice the share of a daughter in Islamic inheritance.
• Lists four special cases in inheritance.