Fatwa #3264324 August 2025Pakistan
Can an inheritor refuse to accept his\her share of inheritance?
Question
If any inheritor (Waris) of inheritance (meeras) does not wish to accept his/her meeras share may be with intent of goodwill (ehsaan) or sacrifice (esar) or annoyance then what is to be done in such case in light of Sharia’h?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
An heir does not have an option ((اختيارin accepting or refusing his\her share of inheritance as their shares are given to them by Allah Taala and the inheritor inherits his\her share automatically. [1]However, an heir may dispose of his share of inheritance after taking possession of it as he wishes, either by doing a favor ((احسان or by giving preference to others(ايثار).
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Ismail Dawoodjee
Student Darul Iftaa
Zambia
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
2015-04-14
فتاوى رحيمية ج دهم ص280 دار الاشاعت[1]
احسن الفتاوى ج9 ص276 سعيد
إما اختياري وهو الوصية أو اضطراري وهو الميراث وسمي فرائض لأن الله تعالى قسمه بنفسه وأوضحه وضوح النهار بشمسه ولذا سماه - صلى الله عليه وسلم - نصف العلم لثبوته بالنص لا غير. وأما غيره فبالنص تارة وبالقياس أخرى وقيل لتعلقه بالموت وغيره بالحياة أو بالضروري وغيره بالاختياري(الرد المحتار ج6 ص758 سعيد)