Muslim inheritance laws in India

Shariat law in question

• Section 2- It deals with the application of personal laws in interstate succession and special property for female, it states that the rules of decision in case where the parties are Muslims, shall be the Muslim Personal Law.
• Shayara Bano vs Union of India- In 2017 the Supreme Court has struck down the practice of triple talaq as unconstitutional, the court reaffirmed that Section 2 would be exclusively adopted as “the rule of decision” in matters listed under Section 2.
• Section 3 - It provides a provision for individuals to opt for the application of Shariat law to themselves and their descendants.

Key aspects

About

Governed by

• Muslim personal laws in India are primarily governed by the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act, 1937.
• The law is primarily based on Islamic principles derived from the Quran, Hadith (sayings and actions of Prophet Muhammad), and customary practices.

Coverage

• The act deals with various aspects of personal life among Muslims, including marriage, succession, inheritance, and charities.
• The act covers marriage (Nikah), divorce (Talaq) and maintenance (Nafkah).

Marriage

• Islamic law recognizes marriage as a civil contract between a man and a woman.
• The essentials of a valid marriage include offer and acceptance (proposal and acceptance), competent parties (both parties must be of sound mind and have reached puberty), and witnesses.

Divorce

• Muslim personal law allows for various forms of divorce, including talaq (pronouncement of divorce by the husband), khula (divorce initiated by the wife), and mubarat (mutual consent divorce).
• The practice of triple talaq where a husband could unilaterally divorce his wife by pronouncing talaq three times in on sitting declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 2017.

Inheritance

• The rules of inheritance are defined under this law, where property is distributed among 12 categories of legal heirs.
• The daughters cannot inherit more than half of what their brothers inherit.

Successions

• Certain relatives (sharers) are entitled to fixed shares of the deceased's estate, while others (residuaries) may inherit the remainder.
• The act is applicable in cases of both intestate (without a will) and testamentary (with a will) succession.

Maintenance

• Islamic law imposes an obligation on individuals to provide maintenance to their spouses, children, and other dependents.
• Maintenance may include financial support for basic necessities such as food, clothing, and shelter.

Adoption and guardianship

• Unlike Hindu law, Islamic law does not recognize adoption in the same way.
• However, guardianship (custody) of children is an important aspect of Muslim personal law, and specific rules govern the rights and responsibilities of guardians.

Renounce faith

• Muslims who wish to renounce their faith are also bound by Shariat law – unless they formally declare that they wish to opt out under the 1937 Act.
• But, doing so would render them without a law to govern aspects of inheritance and succession, because Indian Succession Act specifically excludes Muslims from its purview.

Exclusion

• These law does not apply to Muslims who are married under the Special Marriage Act, 1954.
• It is not applicable in Goa, where the Goa Civil Code is applicable to all persons irrespective of religion.
• Testamentary succession- If the subject matter of property is an immovable property situated in the states of West Bengal, Chennai, and Bombay, Muslims are bound by the Indian Succession Act, 1925.