Fatwa No : 85234
Can a Son Forcefully Demand His Share from His Father?

Can a Son Forcefully Demand His Share from His Father?

What do the respected scholars and honorable muftis say regarding this matter: I have sold my personal house for 2.7 million rupees. I have four sons and five daughters. The house was solely my own property. Now, how should I distribute this amount among my children? Also, can any of my children forcefully demand its distribution from me?

الجوابُ حامِدا ًو مُصلیِّا ً

Every person, during the period of good health and before falling into the illness that leads to death, is the sole owner of his property and has full right to dispose of it in whatever way he wishes. Therefore, it is neither necessary upon him to distribute it during his lifetime, nor does any son or daughter have the right to demand a share from him. Accordingly, the questioner is not obliged to distribute the said amount among his children. However, if he wishes out of his own will and consent to distribute the money obtained from the sale of the house among his children, then he may do so, and this is permissible and valid. But such distribution will not be regarded as inheritance (tarikah); rather, it will be considered as a gift (hiba). The proper method of this gift is that the questioner should first keep aside a reasonable portion of his wealth for his own needs for the remainder of his life, and then distribute the rest of the property equally among his children, handing over full ownership and possession to each one of them so that the hiba becomes valid and complete according to Shari‘ah. It is better in such a gift and distribution that all children be treated equally, since they are all his offspring, and none should be given more or less without a valid reason. However, if he wishes to give more to a son or daughter due to service, need, or religious devotion, then he is permitted to do so. But it is not permissible to deprive any rightful heir without a legitimate Shari‘ah reason, as that would be sinful.

مأخَذُ الفَتوی

ففي الدر المختار: و 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 ولو وهب في صحته كل المال للولد جاز وأثم اھ (5/ 696)۔
و في 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 هكذا في فتاوى قاضي خان وهو المختار كذا في الظهيرية رجل وهب في صحته كل المال للولد جاز في القضاء ويكون آثما فيما صنع كذا في فتاوى قاضي خان اھ (4/ 391) واللہ اعلم بالصواب