Bequeathing Property to Relatives or Charity
Question
I don't have children of my own, and my husband has bought property under my name. I want to know, if I should give the name of my brother in laws' children in the will, or should I donate it to charity? Please let me know the right way
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
In principle, if you are survived only by your husband, he will be the sole beneficiary of your estate. A bequest may be made of up to one-third of a person’s estate. If you choose to bequeath one-third of your estate or less, your husband will receive the remainder.
By bequeathing your property to your brother-in-law’s children, you will receive the reward of charity as well as the reward of joining family ties.[1]
And Allah Ta‘ālā Knows Best.
Checked and Approved by:
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
References (Arabic / Urdu sources)
[1]
مختصر القدوري (ص: 242)
الوصية غير واجبة وهي مستحبة ولا تجوز الوصية لوارث إلا أن يجيزها الورثة ولا يجوز الوصية بما زاد على الثلث
سنن النسائي (٥/٩٢)
٢٥٨٢ - أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْأَعَلَى، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدٌ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ عَوْنٍ، عَنْ حَفْصَةَ، عَنْ أُمِّ الرَّائِحِ، عَنْ سَلْمَانَ بْنِ عَامِرٍ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «إِنَّ الصَّدَقَةَ عَلَى الْمِسْكِينِ صَدَقَةٌ، وَعَلَى ذِي الرَّحِمِ اثْنَتَانِ صَدَقَةٌ وَصِلَةٌ»
- Checked & approved by
- Mufti Ebrahim Desai
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