Assalamualaykum. I have a few questions regarding my cousin’s father who has just passed away recently.He had business dealing with others, and some of those deals are not complete. Some people still owe him money, and some of those people claim he owes them money. Others have come after he passed away and claimed he owed them money. I would like to know the ins and outs of debt.What can/should be done about this?
Answer
(Fatwa: 482/450=L/1429)
The business dealings your uncle had with others came to an end after his death. So, the matter should be cleared with his partners. Those who had borrowed money from him should be asked to return it, and those who are known surely that your uncle had owed them money, they should be paid their debts. And at last, property left by him should be divided as per Shariah. For this, you may consult any Alim providing him details in order to divide property rightly.
Allah (Subhana Wa Ta’ala) knows Best
Darul Ifta,
Darul Uloom Deoband