The correct answer is 1/4 (one-fourth). According to Islamic inheritance law, if a man dies and leaves behind a wife (his widow) but has no children, then the wife receives one-fourth 1/4 of his estate. This rule comes directly from the Holy Qur’an, which gives detailed instructions about how the property of a deceased person should be divided among the heirs.

In Surah An-Nisa (Chapter 4, Verse 12), Allah says:
"In that which your wives leave, your share is a half if they have no child, but if they have a child, you get a fourth of that which they leave..."
—and likewise, for the wives from their husbands. This clearly explains that when there are no children, the widow gets 1/4 of what the husband leaves behind.

This rule is part of the fixed shares of inheritance in Islamic law known as "Faraid." These shares are designed to ensure fairness and justice in the distribution of wealth after someone passes away. In Islam, inheritance is a right of the family members, and no one can deny them this share.

If the husband had children — whether from the same wife or another — then the widow’s share would be reduced to one-fourth (¼). But since this question asks about a situation where the husband is childless, the One Fourth 1/4 is the correct portion for the widow.

It’s important to note that this share is from the net estate, meaning it is calculated after funeral expenses, debts, and any valid will (within the one-third limit) are paid. The rest of the property is then divided among the rightful heirs.

The wisdom behind giving the widow 1/4 in the absence of children is that she may not have a son or daughter to support her financially. The larger share provides her with security and support in her remaining life. Islamic inheritance laws take into account both the family relationships and the possible needs of each heir.

Also, Islamic law protects the widow’s right even if she was married to the husband for a short time. Her share is guaranteed as long as the marriage was valid and the husband passed away while they were still married.

This system ensures that wealth is shared fairly and that no family member is left out or treated unfairly. In fact, the rules are so specific and detailed that no other legal system in the world has such a fixed method of inheritance revealed in a religious book.

In summary, if a man dies childless, his widow receives 1/4 (one-fourth) of his inheritance. This rule is based on clear verses of the Holy Qur’an and is an important part of Islamic family and financial law.