Fatwa No : 83035
The Issue of Property Distribution During One’s Lifetime

The Issue of Property Distribution During One’s Lifetime

Respected scholars and honorable Muftis, what is your opinion regarding the following issue that I have sold my property for 2,050,000, and now, during my lifetime, I wish to distribute it among my children. I have eight sons and three daughters, and my wife is also alive. Therefore, I would like to know how this distribution should take place, and how much share each child will receive. Kindly guide me in light of the Qur’an and Sunnah.

الجوابُ حامِدا ًو مُصلیِّا ً

It should be clearly understood that every person, during the course of his sound and healthy life, is the sole owner of his wealth and property, and he has full authority to use or dispose of it in any manner he wishes. Therefore, if someone, of his own free will and without any compulsion, wishes to distribute his wealth and property among his heirs during his lifetime, this is permissible in Shariah and is referred to as Hibah (gift). The best and recommended way of doing so is that he should first set aside a reasonable portion for his own needs for the remainder of his life, and then distribute the rest of his wealth and property equally among his children, handing over to each their rightful share with complete and formal possession. Merely writing their names on papers is not sufficient; actual transfer of possession is necessary for the Hibah to be valid and complete in Shariah. It is preferable that in this gifting and distribution, he treats all his children equally, since they are all his offspring, and he should not give more to some and less to others. However, if he wishes, on account of certain reasons such as a child’s greater service, financial need, or religious commitment, he may give that child a little more than the others. But without a valid Shari reason, he must not deprive any of his heirs entirely from his wealth, for doing so is sinful.

مأخَذُ الفَتوی

کما فی الفتاوى الهندية: ولو وهب رجل شيئا لأولاده في الصحة وأراد تفضيل البعض على البعض في ذلك لا رواية لهذا في الأصل عن أصحابنا وروي عن أبي حنيفة رحمه الله تعالى أنه لا بأس به إذا كان التفضيل لزيادة فضل له في الدين وإن كانا سواء يكره وروى المعلى عن أبي يوسف رحمه الله تعالى أنه لا بأس به إذا لم يقصد به الإضرار وإن قصد به الإضرار سوى بينهم يعطي الابنة مثل ما يعطي للابن وعليه الفتوى اھ (4/ 391)۔
و في الفقه الإسلامي وأدلته للزحيلي: لا خلاف بين جمهور العلماء في استحباب التسوية في العطاء بين الأولاد، وكراهة التفضيل بينهم في حال الصحة كما تقدم (5/ 4012)۔
و في حاشية ابن عابدين: ولو وهب شيئا لأولاده في الصحة، وأراد تفضيل البعض على البعض روي عن أبي حنيفة لا بأس به إذا كان التفضيل لزيادة فضل في الدين وإن كانوا سواء يكره وروى المعلى عن أبي يوسف أنه لا بأس به إذا لم يقصد الإضرار وإلا سوى بينهم وعليه الفتوى (4/ 444)۔
و في الدر المختار: في الخانية لا بأس بتفضيل بعض الأولاد في المحبة لأنها عمل القلب، وكذا في العطايا إن لم يقصد به الإضرار، وإن قصده فسوى بينهم يعطي البنت كالابن عند الثاني وعليه الفتوى (5/ 696)۔
و في الدر المختار؛ (وتتم) الهبة (بالقبض) الكامل (ولو الموهوب شاغلا لملك الواهب لا مشغولا به) (5/ 690)۔