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. Tawhid is the foundation of Islam, and the rules of Mirath are part of obeying Allah’s commands.

Behavioural objectives

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

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

What is Tawhid?

Tawhid is the most important belief in Islam. The word “Tawhid” means believing that Allah is One. It means there is only one God, and no one else should be worshipped. This is the first thing a Muslim must believe.

When Muslims say the Shahada (the testimony of faith): “There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah,” they are expressing Tawhid.

What are the three types of Tawhid?

Muslim scholars often talk about three kinds of Tawhid:

1. Tawhid al-Rububiyyah (Oneness of Lordship): This means believing that Allah alone created everything. He takes care of all things. He gives life and death. He makes the rain fall. He makes plants grow. Everything that happens is by His will.
2. Tawhid al-Uluhiyyah (Oneness of Worship): This means that only Allah should be worshipped. We should not pray to anyone else. We should not bow down 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): This means believing in all the names and qualities of Allah mentioned in the Quran and Hadith. Allah has the most beautiful names like the Most Merciful, the Most Kind, the All-Knowing. No one is like Allah in His perfect qualities.

Why does Tawhid matter?

Tawhid is the foundation of Islam. All other Islamic teachings are built on this belief. When a person truly believes in Tawhid:

• They find peace knowing there is only one God to turn to.
• They understand that all power belongs to Allah.
• They know that only Allah deserves worship.
• They feel free from being a slave to other people or things.

The opposite of Tawhid is “Shirk.” Shirk means giving partners to Allah or worshipping something besides Allah. In Islam, this is considered the biggest sin.

How do Muslims practise Tawhid in daily life?

Muslims practise Tawhid in many ways:

• By praying only to Allah
• By asking help directly from Allah
• By being thankful to Allah for all blessings
• By following Allah’s rules in the Quran
• By remembering that Allah sees everything they do

What is Mirath (Islamic inheritance)?

Mirath means the rules about how to divide money and property after someone dies. In Islam, Allah has given clear rules about who gets what when a person passes away. These rules are so important that they are mentioned directly in the Quran.

Why do Islamic inheritance rules matter?

The Islamic system of inheritance has many benefits:

• It makes sure wealth is shared among many family members.
• It helps prevent fights over money after someone dies.
• It takes care of both men and women in the family.
• It respects the rights of everyone in the family.
• It helps prevent too much wealth going to just one person.

What are the basic principles of Islamic inheritance?

1. Pay debts first: Before dividing any money, all debts of the dead person must be paid.
2. Funeral costs: Money for a simple funeral comes next.
3. Follow the will (Wasiyyah): Up to one-third of what is left can be given according to the person’s will. This can go to charity or to people who would not normally inherit.
4. Divide the rest according to Islamic law: The remaining money (at least two-thirds) must be divided according to the fixed shares in the Quran.

Who gets what share?

The Quran names specific people who must get inheritance. They are called “Quranic heirs.” These include:

Primary heirs:

• Husband or wife
• Father and mother
• Sons and daughters

Secondary heirs (who inherit if some primary heirs are not there):

• Grandsons and granddaughters
• Brothers and sisters
• Grandfathers and grandmothers

Some basic shares

Here are some basic shares mentioned in the Quran:

Why do males sometimes get more?

In some cases, men get more than women in Islamic inheritance. For example, sons get twice what daughters get. This does not mean men are worth more. Men in Islamic families have more financial duties:

• Men must provide for their wives and children.
• Men must pay the mahr (dowry) when they marry.
• Men must support their parents if needed.
• Women keep all their money for themselves.

Women get their own share but do not have to spend it on anyone. This balances things out in the whole system.

What are the special cases in inheritance?

There are many special rules for unusual family situations:

• If someone dies leaving no children or parents, brothers and sisters inherit.
• If someone dies leaving only daughters, the daughters get fixed shares and other relatives get the rest.
• If someone converts to Islam, they cannot inherit from non-Muslim relatives.
• A killer cannot inherit from the person they killed.

How does inheritance work in practice?

When someone dies, these steps are followed:

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

What is the wisdom of Islamic inheritance?

The Islamic system of inheritance shows great wisdom:

• It acknowledges that property ultimately belongs to Allah.
• It ensures that wealth is distributed widely, not hoarded.
• It recognises family ties and responsibilities.
• It gives women independent economic rights.
• It balances fixed rules with some flexibility through the will.

The rules of inheritance are part of following Allah’s commands, which connects back to Tawhid: 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

1. Write down four ways in which a Muslim practises Tawhid in daily life.
2. Explain why a son receives twice the share of a daughter in Islamic inheritance.
3. List four special cases in inheritance.