Answer
(Fatwa: 1006/951=B/1430)
Until the father is alive he is sole owner of his entire property; no son or daughter has any right and share in the same. The children have a right in the property of father after his death. But, if a father wants to distribute his property among his children, he can do so. The father should distribute it equally among the children, this is preferable and better. But for valid reasons, father can prefer one on another as well. So, if any child is financially weak, father can prefer him on other children. The distribution made by father will be called ?hibah? (gift):
وفي الفتاوی: رجل لہ ابن وبنت أراد أن یھب لھما شیئا فالأفضل أن یجعل للذکر مثل حظ الأنثیین عند محمد وعند أبي یوسف بینھم بالسواء وھو المختار لورود الآثار (شامي 4:707)
وَلَوْ وَهَبَ رَجُلٌ شيئا لِأَوْلَادِهِ في الصِّحَّةِ وَأَرَادَ تَفْضِيلَ الْبَعْضِ على الْبَعْضِ في ذلك لَا رِوَايَةَ لِهَذَا في الْأَصْلِ عن أَصْحَابِنَا وَرُوِيَ عن أبي حَنِيفَةَ رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى أَنَّهُ لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ إذَا كان التَّفْضِيلُ لِزِيَادَةِ فَضْلٍ له في الدِّينِ (الفتاوی العالمگیریۃ، کتاب الھبۃ وفضلھا والتحریض علیھا)
Allah (Subhana Wa Ta’ala) knows Best
Darul Ifta,
Darul Uloom Deoband