Question:

What do the scholars and experts of shari’ah say regarding a stepdaughter? Can she inherit from her stepfather?

Answer:

All perfect praise is for Allah ﷻ, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah ﷻ, and that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is His Messenger.

The name given to a stepdaughter in Arabic is Rabiba. This relationship has been mentioned in the Holy Qur’an when outlining the women who are impermissible to marry. Allah ﷻ states:

“The stepdaughters who are in your care from women with whom you have consummated marriage.” (Sura an-Nisa: 23)

The cause of a relationship between the stepdaughter and stepfather is her mother’s marriage These types of relationships formed due to marriage are called ‘musahara’ and are not a cause for Inheritance. Accordingly, she will not receive any inheritance from her stepfather as legally she is an ‘ajnabi, stranger, to him.

And Allah ﷻ knows best.

This fatwa is written by Dr. Hafiz Muhammad Munir Al-Azhari