Estate Distribution and Zakat
| Fatwa #2226 | Category: Inheritance | Country: Zambia | Date: 12th February 2026 |
| Fatwa #2226 | Date: 12th February 2026 |
| Category: Inheritance | |
| Country: Zambia | |
Question
Our mother passed away in October 2025. She had a property in Petauke which she had gifted to her son Imraan before passing away. This information was communicated to some of the children but was not communicated directly to some of her other children. The gifting was done verbally and is not in writing. Is the gifting valid or will the property have to be distributed amongst her heirs? Will she be questionable by Allah for not sharing equally among all her children?
She left behind approximately £1700 pounds which was realized from the sale of her gold a few years ago. Zakaat has not been paid on this amount for the last few years. Similarly, it is not known whether Zakaat on the gold was paid for the last few years. What should be done with the money and payment of Zakaat?
One sister predeceased our mother. Will her family get a share of the inheritance?
Our mother had a stepson from her husband’s previous marriage. Will he be entitled to a share of the inheritance?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
- If the property was gifted in her lifetime, and Ijaab (proposal), Qabool (acceptance) and possession (qabdh) of the property occurred by the recipient (Imran), then the gift is valid, and the property belongs to Imran.[1] Since some of the children are aware of it, it suffices as proof of gift.
- To distribute one’s possessions amongst one’s children unequally without just cause is severely disliked in Shari’ah. You may refer to the link below for more information.
https://daruliftaazambia.com/fatwa/?id=2082
- In principle, if the deceased left behind instructions to discharge unpaid zakaat, it will be taken from one third of his/her estate. Anything beyond that will require the consent of all heirs. Similarly, if the deceased did not leave behind any such instructions, then the heirs may voluntarily discharge zakaat on his/her behalf.[2] If your late mothers heirs mutually agree to discharge zakaat, then as a matter of precaution, it would be best to discharge the zakaat of the cash as well as the gold for the past few years. Make an estimation to ascertain how many years the zakat may have been left unpaid.
- No
- No
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Mufti Bilal Pandor
Concurred by
Mufti Nabeel Valli
Darul Iftaa Mahmudiyyah
Lusaka, Zambia
الأصل للشيباني ط قطر (3/ 360) [1]
ولا تجوز الهبة إلا مقسومة مقبوضة
بدائع الصنائع في ترتيب الشرائع (6/ 115)
أَمَّا رُكْنُ الْهِبَةِ فَهُوَ الْإِيجَابُ مِنْ الْوَاهِبِ فَأَمَّا الْقَبُولُ مِنْ الْمَوْهُوبِ لَهُ فَلَيْسَ بِرُكْنٍ اسْتِحْسَانًا وَالْقِيَاسُ أَنْ يَكُونَ رُكْنًا وَهُوَ قَوْلُ زُفَرَ وَفِي قَوْلٍ قَالَ الْقَبْضُ أَيْضًا
(فَأَمَّا) الْقَبُولُ وَالْقَبْضُ فَفِعْلُ الْمَوْهُوبِ لَهُ فَلَا يَكُونُ مَقْدُورَ الْوَاهِبِ وَالْمِلْكُ مَحْكُومٌ شَرْعِيٌّ ثَبَتَ جَبْرًا مِنْ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى شَاءَ الْعَبْدُ أَوْ أَبَى فَلَا يُتَصَوَّرُ مَنْعَ النَّفْسِ عَنْهُ أَيْضًا بِخِلَافِ الْبَيْعِ
بدائع الصنائع في ترتيب الشرائع (2/ 53) [2]
ومنها موت من عليه الزكاة من غير وصية عندنا، وعند الشافعي لا تسقط وجملة الكلام فيه أن من عليه الزكاة إذا مات قبل أدائها فلا يخلو إما أن كان، أوصى بالأداء وإما أن كان لم يوص فإن كان لم يوص تسقط عنه في أحكام الدنيا حتى لا تؤخذ من تركته ولا يؤمر الوصي أو الوارث بالأداء من تركته عندنا، وعنده تؤخذ من تركته، وعلى هذا الخلاف إذا مات من عليه صدقة الفطر، أو النذر، أو الكفارات، أو الصوم، أو الصلاة، أو النفقات، أو الخراج، أو الجزية؛ لأنه لا يستوفى من تركته عندنا، وعنده يستوفى من تركته
البحر الرائق – ث (2/ 227)
وَإِلَى أَنَّهُ لو مَاتَ من عليه الزَّكَاةُ لَا تُؤْخَذُ من تَرِكَتِهِ لِفَقْدِ شَرْطِ صِحَّتِهَا وهو النِّيَّةُ إلَّا إذَا أَوْصَى بها فَتُعْتَبَرُ من الثُّلُثِ كَسَائِرِ التَّبَرُّعَاتِ