Distribution of inheritance under islamic law: An appraisal of online inheritance calculators

Abstract

With the proliferation of the internet, new modes of access and dissemination have been invented. This paradigmatic shift is not only providing a stimulus for science and technology, but traditional fields of knowledge, such as religious studies and allied disciplines, are also among its beneficiaries. Once it was an uphill task to find a scholar well versed in Islamic inheritance law and ask for advice on the distribution of a deceased’s estate. Various online inheritance calculators have made it convenient, and to some extent, eliminated the inevitability of the consultation with scholars of inheritance. In this background, the paper analyzes some accessible online inheritance calculators and explores their strengths and weaknesses. For evaluative purposes, two benchmarks are devised: one is ‘accuracy score’ and another ‘efficiency grade’. The outcome of the assessment is mixed. Despite the accessibility of online calculators, one should not repose outright confidence without being aware of their merits and demerits. Some calculators have evolved a smooth and efficient system to solve a large number of propositions of inheritance, while others lack proficiency and accuracy.