Answered by Shaykh Abdurrahman ibn Yusuf Mangera
I gave some cash to one of my sons for starting a business-a small textile mills-about 15 years ago with clear verbal arrangement that he would give equal shares to his other two brothers. Now that his mill has done well and his assets have gone up manifold, he has denied this to his brother and on reminding him he has totally refused to fulfill his commitment. I am an old man of 67.will it be Islamically correct to deprive him the equal amount of my property, he was supposed to part with in favour of his other two brothers and give it to them
Assalamu alaykum
In the name of Allah the Inspirer of truth.
There is no way you can deny him the right to inheritance, since whatever you possess at your death will pass on to the inheritors immediately.
However, if you distributed your wealth to your other children before your death (and before any terminal illness), that would be permissible. In this way nothing will remain in your possession at your death to inherit by anyone. You will have to transfer complete ownership to them before your death for this to be a valid transfer.
We would however only advise this as a last resort after all negotiations with him fail and if you still feel like depriving him of the amount of cash you had originally given to him. Try again to settle with him so that he either give his brothers and sisters their rightful share or he return the capital cash amount back to you.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalam
Abdurrahman ibn Yusuf