Reinventing the Islamic Law of Inheritance: The Share of Orphaned Grandchild in Islam and Pakistani Legal System

23 Pages Posted: 13 May 2014

See all articles by Muhammad Munir

Muhammad Munir

International Islamic University, Islamabad - Department of Law

Date Written: April 29, 2014

Abstract

The issue of the share of grandchild in section 4 of the Muslim Family Law Ordinance 1961 in Pakistan has sparked the hottest debate in the law of inheritance. This work discusses this controversial issue to find out, first, the background of this thorny issue; secondly, to evaluate the arguments of the supporters and opponents of representational succession; thirdly, to check the Islamicity of section 4; fourthly, to analysis how is this section interpreted by the higher Courts in Pakistan; finally, this work looks at the possible alternative to section 4 or representation for the grandchildren. The vast majority of scholars consider it as a re-writing of the Islamic law of inheritance; that its interpretation by the superior courts in Pakistan amounts to its non-existence; that experts of this field prefer ‘obligatory bequest’ over representational succession to provide help to the orphaned grandchildren.

Keywords: Grandchild, MFLO 1961, Share of Grandchild, Grandchildren, Islamic law of Inheritance, Islam, Pakistani Legal System, Representational Succession, Obligatory Bequest, judiciary, Peshawar High Court, Lahore High Court, Supreme Court of Pakistan.

Suggested Citation

Munir, Muhammad, Reinventing the Islamic Law of Inheritance: The Share of Orphaned Grandchild in Islam and Pakistani Legal System (April 29, 2014). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2430826 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2430826

Muhammad Munir (Contact Author)

International Islamic University, Islamabad - Department of Law ( email )

Islamabad, Islamabad Capital Territory 44,000
Pakistan
3335124423 (Phone)
0092-51-9258021 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.iiu.edu.pk

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