My question relates to inheritance. we are a family of 1 boy and 2 girls. Both my parents are still alive,alhamdulillah. When i got married, my mum (through Allah’s mercy and generosity) had decided to give me (her son) a sum of money in order to “find my feet” and buy a house and car as i would need to support my wife. She now feels that she needs to give each of my 2 sisters, both being married, the same amount in order to have a clear conscience regarding distribution of wealth whilst still alive. However, were she to do that, she would not be able to support herself or my sick father. (Request for Mufti to make dua e shifa for my father who had a stroke 4 years ago.) She is wondering if she can draw up an official document which will state that upon her death, my sisters may claim their share. this will be equivalent to the amount which she had given me.
1) is this acceptable and how should she go about doing that?
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Assalaamu `alaykum waRahmatullahi Wabarakatuh
We make dua that Allah Ta’ala grants your father a speedy recovery and make the four years of his illness a means of forgiveness for all his past sins. Ameen
According to majority of the Ulama, it is mustahab to maintain equality in gifts given to children. Therefore, there would be no sin on your mother if she is unable to give your siblings an equivalent amount which she had given you due to your personal circumstances. She may use her wealth to maintain your father.
Furthermore, since your sisters are the heirs of your mother, it would not be permissible for your mother to make a bequest for them to receive anything more than what the Shariah has stipulated for them. It comes in a hadith
أخبرنا قتيبة بن سعيد قال حدثنا أبو عوانة عن قتادة عن شهر بن حوشب عن عبد الرحمن بن غنم عن عمرو بن خارجة قال خطب رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال ))إن الله قد أعطى كل ذي حق حقه ولا وصية لوارث(( (رواه الاربعة)
((Allah has given every one their rights; (verily) there is no bequest for an inheritor)) (Nasai, Abu Dawood, Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah)
Therefore, your sisters would only receive their allotted shares and no document can be drawn up for them to claim anything more.
الفتاوى الهندية – ( ج 4- ص 437 دار الكتب العلمية )
ولو وهب رجل شيئا لأولاده في الصحة وأراد تفضيل البعض على البعض في ذلك لا رواية لهذا في الأصل عن أصحابنا ، وروي عن أبي حنيفة رحمه الله تعالى أنه لا بأس به إذا كان التفضيل لزيادة فضل له في الدين ، وإن كانا سواء يكره وروى المعلى عن أبي يوسف رحمه الله تعالى أنه لا بأس به إذا لم يقصد به الإضرار ، وإن قصد به الإضرار سوى بينهم يعطي الابنة مثل ما يعطي للابن وعليه الفتوى هكذا في فتاوى قاضي خان وهو المختار ، كذا في الظهيرية .
رد المحتار ( ج 4 – ص 444 السعيد )
.وفي الخانية ولو وهب شيئا لأولاده في الصحة ، وأراد تفضيل البعض على البعض روي عن أبي حنيفة لا بأس به إذا كان التفضيل لزيادة فضل في الدين وإن كانوا سواء يكره وروى المعلى عن أبي يوسف أنه لا بأس به إذا لم يقصد الإضرار وإلا سوى بينهم وعليه الفتوى
And Allah knows best
Wassalam
Ml. Ismail Moosa,
Student Darul Iftaa
Checked and Approved by:
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Darul Iftaa, Madrassah In’aamiyyah