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Vol. 10 No. 2 (2025)

Articles

Forensic Medicine and its Legal Implication on Selected Matters in Islamic Law of Inheritance

https://doi.org/10.55831/ajis.v10i2.681

Published 05.09.2025

  • Nafiu Ahmed Arikewuyo
Nafiu Ahmed Arikewuyo
Centre for Islamic Heritage and Community Development, Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin-Nigeria

Abstract

One of the driving forces behind the use of a reason-based approach in Islamic law is the evolution of a new occurrence that needs religious verdicts. The modern era is highly characterised by new developments in technology that have reshaped the face of many disciplines, including medicine. Because ijtihād (independent reasoning) has played a major role in the development of the Islamic law of succession across ages, this study focuses on the legal implications of medical forensic evidence on some issues under the Islamic law of inheritance. The research adopts a qualitative approach through content analysis of literature on the subject. Some of the medical-related matters sampled by the study are the establishment of lineage through DNA, murder through contagious disease and transgender surgery. The legal implications of these medical matters are discussed as they relate to kinship as one of the causes of inheritance, killing the deceased as one of the impediments to inheritance, and the gender-based sharing formula in inheritance. The study recommends further study into other medical aspects with legal implications of the Islamic law of inheritance.

Keywords

Medical, Forensic, Legal, Islamic, Inheritance

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