A Wasiyyat (Bequest) Made In Favour Of An Heir
Question
Marhoom had made verbal bequests as follows but no transfer of ownership was done after these verbal requests were made:
The wife will inherit the house she is currently living in. (mentioned verbally in the presence of witnesses and in writing in an non-Islamic will).
The son will inherit the car that he was using whilst his father was ill (mentioned verbally in the presence of a witness).
Answer
Since the wife and son are both from the Marhooms Shar’i heirs, it was not correct for the Marhoom to make such bequests in their favour.
In principle, these Wasiyyats/bequests were not valid and both the house and car will form part of Marhoom’s estate to be distributed amongst all the heirs. However, if the rest of the heirs (provided that they are Baaligh), give consent and approval for these Wasiyyats, then they may be implemented and the house and car will accordingly be designated to the nominated beneficiaries.
References (Arabic / Urdu sources)
الوصية غير واجبة، وهي مستحبة، ولا تجوز الوصية لوارث إلا أن يجيزها الورثة. ولا تجوز الوصية بما زاد على الثلث، ولا للقاتل
(اللباب في شرح الكتاب ج ۳ ص ۲۲۲) (وَشَرَائِطُهَا
كَوْنُ الْمُوصِي أَهْلًا لِلتَّمْلِيكِ فَلَمْ تَجُزْ مِنْ صَغِيرٍ وَمَجْنُونٍ وَمُكَاتَبٍ إِلَّا إِذَا أَضَافَ لِعِتْقِهِ كَمَا سَيَجِيءُ (وَعَدَمُ اسْتِغْرَاقِهِ بِالدَّيْنِ) لِتَقَدُّمِهِ عَلَى الْوَصِيَّةِ كَمَا سَيَجِيءُ (وَ) كَوْنُ الْمُوصَى لَهُ حَيًّا وَقْتَهَا تَحْقِيقًا أَوْ تَقْدِيرًا لِيَشْمَلَ الْحَمْلَ الْمُوصَى لَهُ فَافْهَمْهُ فَإِنَّ بِهِ يَسْقُطُ إِيرَادُ الشُّرُنْبُلَالِيُّ (وَ) كَوْنُهُ (غَيْرَ وَارِثِ) وَقْتَ الْمَوْتِ
(الرد المحتار ج 6 ص ٦٤٩ )
- Approved by
- Mufti Muhammed Saeed Motara Saheb D.B.
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