Fatwa #4607927 September 2020United States of America
Inheritance & laws of Iddat
Question
Asalaam-o-Alaikum. I have a few questions regarding inheritance. A muslim brother has recently passed away. He left behind his wife with no children. He also left behind other following immediate family members: (No children) A mother. A brother (married with kids) Two sisters, (both married and have kids) This deceased brother had a property in his name which he had acquired from his father as his share of inheritance. Note: This deceased brother was once facing financial difficulty and was in heavy debt during his married life. That time his wife (now his widow) gave him all her personal cash savings & jewellery to sell & pay-off his debt. Until his death, this person has never paid back any amount to his wife towards the cash and jewellery that she gave to her husband. What would be the status of her cash savings & jewellery that she gave to her husband? Is it considered as an unpaid debt on the deceased person? Mufti saheb please guide this family for the distribution of property, according to Islamic shariah. Please also respond to the Jewellery/Cash issue of the widow. SECOND question is that the widow is in her 40's and now alone to live her life and she is working and earning for her life. According to Islamic requirement she has to observe "Iddat" for a specified time. She is afraid to loose her job if she stay at home for the whole period of Iddat. In your opinion what is the way out in this matter? Whether she should stay home and perform the obligation of "Iddat", and loose her income or what other option she has?? Please respond to all these question in detail so that the family members of this deceased person may make right decisions. Jazak Allah khair for your very valuable time and your knowledge of Deen that you share with this greived family. May Allah bless you.
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
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• The Shariah ruling herein given is based specifically on the question posed and should be read in conjunction with the question. • Darul Iftaa bears no responsibility to any party who may or may not act on this answer and is being hereby exempted from loss or damage howsoever caused. • This answer may not be used as evidence in any Court of Law without prior written consent of the Darul Iftaa |
There are three issues regarding your query:
1) Distribution of the Estate;
2) Money owed to wife; and
3) ‘Iddah of wife.
A) Note: According to the Islamic Law of Succession and Inheritance, distribution of an estate will only commence after funeral expenses, debts (including legal costs) and bequests (if any) made to non-heirs - which will not exceed one-third (1/3) of the Estate after debts and funeral expenses have been settled. Thereafter, all assets form part of the Net Estate and will have to be distributed according to the Islamic Law of Succession and Inheritance.
We are advised the deceased is survived by a wife, mother, brother and two sisters. Accordingly, the estate will be divided into 48 shares as follows:[i]
|
Heir |
Shares |
Percentage |
|
Wife |
12 |
25% |
|
Mother |
8 |
16.7% |
|
Brother |
14 |
29.12% |
|
Sister |
7 |
14.6% |
|
Sister |
7 |
14.6% |
|
Total |
48 |
100% |
B) There are two possible scenarios:
a) If the wife gifted the cash and jewellery to the husband, then it will not be regarded as a debt. In this scenario, the wife will only be entitled to the share of 25% from the estate.
b) If the husband borrowed the cash and jewellery from the wife and the wife gave the cash and jewellery as a loan to the husband, then it will be a debt on the husband. Hence, in this scenario, the wife will be entitled to the cash and value of the jewellery amount prior to the distribution of the estate to the heirs. Thereafter, she will receive her share of 25% from the estate.
C) In principle, it is permissible for a woman in the ‘Iddah of Wafaat (period of mourning when a woman loses her husband) to leave her home during the day if she does not have a source of income and there is a need for her to earn an income. Yes, if it is possible for her to work from home and still earn an income, then she should do that.[ii]
However, if she does leave her house for work, then she should ensure that she adheres to the laws of Hijab and spends the nights at her house.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Mahmood Suliman
Student Darul Iftaa
Gaborone, Botswana
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
[i] {فَإِنْ كَانَ لَهُ إِخْوَةٌ فَلِأُمِّهِ السُّدُسُ} [النساء: 11]
{وَلَهُنَّ الرُّبُعُ مِمَّا تَرَكْتُمْ إِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَكُمْ وَلَدٌ} [النساء: 12]
[ii] مختصر القدوري (ص: 170)
ولا يجوز للمطلقة الرجعية والمبتوتة الخروج من بيتها ليلا ولا نهارا
والمتوفى عنها زوجها تخرج نهارا وبعض الليل ولا تبيت في غير منزلها
فتح القدير (9/ 342)
( ولا يجوز للمطلقة الرجعية والمبتوتة الخروج من بيتها ليلا ولا نهارا ، والمتوفى عنها زوجها تخرج نهارا وبعض الليل ولا تبيت في غير منزلها ) أما المطلقة فلقوله تعالى { لا تخرجوهن من بيوتهن ولا يخرجن إلا أن يأتين بفاحشة مبينة } قيل الفاحشة نفس الخروج ، وقيل الزنا ، ويخرجن لإقامة الحد ، وأما المتوفى عنها زوجها فلأنه لا نفقة لها فتحتاج إلى الخروج نهارا لطلب المعاش ، وقد يمتد إلى أن يهجم الليل ، ولا كذلك المطلقة لأن النفقة دارة عليها من مال زوجها
الدر المختار وحاشية ابن عابدين (رد المحتار) (3/ 536)
(ومعتدة موت تخرج في الجديدين وتبيت) أكثر الليل (في منزلها) لأن نفقتها عليها فتحتاج للخروج، حتى لو كان عندها كفايتها صارت كالمطلقة فلا يحل لها الخروج فتح. وجوز في القنية خروجها لإصلاح ما لا بد لها منه كزراعة ولا وكيل لها.
(قوله: في الجديدين) أي الليل والنهار فإنهما يتجددان دائما ط. (قوله: لأن نفقتها عليها) أي لم تسقط باختيارها، بخلاف المختلعة كما مر وهذا بيان للفرق بين معتدة الموت ومعتدة الطلاق. قال في الهداية: وأما المتوفى عنها زوجها فلأنه لا نفقة لها فتحتاج إلى الخروج نهارا لطلب المعاش وقد يمتد إلى أن يهجم الليل ولا كذلك المطلقة لأن النفقة دارة عليها من مال زوجها. اهـ.
قال في الفتح: والحاصل أن مدار حل خروجها بسبب قيام شغل المعيشة فيتقدر بقدره، فمتى انقضت حاجتها لا يحل لها بعد ذلك صرف الزمان خارج بيتها. اهـ. وبهذا اندفع قول البحر إن الظاهر من كلامهم جواز خروج المعتدة عن وفاة نهارا ولو كان عندها نفقة، وإلا لقالوا: لا تخرج المعتدة عن طلاق، أو موت إلا لضرورة فإن المطلقة تخرج للضرورة ليلا، أو نهارا اهـ.
ووجه الدفع أن معتدة الموت لما كانت في العادة محتاجة إلى الخروج لأجل أن تكتسب للنفقة قالوا: إنها تخرج في النهار وبعض الليل، بخلاف المطلقة. وأما الخروج للضرورة فلا فرق فيه بينهما كما نصوا عليه فيما يأتي، فالمراد به هنا غير الضرورة، ولهذا بعدما أطلق في كافي الحاكم منع خروج المطلقة قال: والمتوفى عنها زوجها تخرج بالنهار لحاجتها ولا تبيت في غير منزلها، فهذا صريح في الفرق بينهما، نعم عبارة المتون يوهم ظاهرها ما قاله في البحر، فلو قيدوا خروجها بالحاجة كما فعل في الكافي لكان أظهر. (قوله: وجوز في القنية إلخ) قال في النهر: ولا بد أن يقيد ذلك بأن تبيت في بيت زوجها.