Bequest of a Non-Muslim for a Muslim

QUESTION:

Is it permissible for a non-Muslim parent to bequeath more than one third of their wealth to their Muslim son? The parent wishes to divide his estate equally between his two sons, one of whom is a Muslim. Will the Muslim son be allowed to accept the bequest?

ANSWER:

It is permissible for a non-Muslim (living in a non-Muslim country) to bequeath his wealth to a Muslim, irrespective of the amount bequeathed.

  الْحَرْبِيُّ الْمُسْتَأْمَنُ إذَا أَوْصَى لِلْمُسْلِمِ وَالذِّمِّيِّ يَصِحُّ فِي الْجُمْلَةِ غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ إنْ كَانَ دَخَلَ وَارِثُهُ مَعَهُ فِي دَارِ الْإِسْلَامِ فَأَوْصَى بِأَكْثَرَ مِنْ الثُّلُثِ وُقِفَ مَا زَادَ عَلَى الثُّلُثِ عَلَى إجَازَةِ وَارِثِهِ، وَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ وَارِثٌ أَصْلًا تَصِحُّ مِنْ جَمِيعِ الْمَالِ كَمَا فِي الْمُسْلِمِ وَالذِّمِّيِّ، وَكَذَلِكَ إذَا كَانَ لَهُ وَارِثٌ لَكِنَّهُ فِي دَارِ الْحَرْبِ. (الفتاوي الهندية 6/132)

ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!

ANSWERED BY:

Mufti Abdul Kader Fazlani

Date: 26 Dhul Qa’dah 1446 / 25 May 2025

CHECKED AND APPROVED BY:

Mufti Yacoob Vally Saheb