Fatwa ID: 08477
Written by Maulana Sakib Shadman
Question:
My grandfather passed away due to cancer.
Approx 2 months before passing away( when the cancer had spread already and he came home from hospital as he did not want to do chemo) said to my father to put one of his cars on my name, his grandson.
Is it possible that he could have meant wasiyat from this?
The car was not transferred to my name, although it was parked in my dad’s house garage from time to time as my grandfather used to stay by our house from time to time and passed away a our house . And I stay with my father.
My father told me after my grandfather passed away that my grandfather told him to put that vehicle on my name
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
It seems very likely that your grandfather gifted you this car as Wasiyyat (bequest). A Wasiyyat is when a person (whilst alive) voluntarily requests that a portion of his wealth be distributed to certain entities (e.g. non-heirs/organisations) when he passes away.
You mentioned that after your grandfather passed away, the ownership of the car was transferred to you, as is the standard procedure with Wasiyyaat. It appears that your father followed this procedure knowing the car was a Wasiyyat.
The main ruling to consider when it comes to Wasiyyat is that one cannot bequest more than ⅓ of their total estate after their debts and funeral expenses have been settled. This includes all bequests and not just the bequests made to you. As long as this is the case, you may keep the car.
In conclusion, from the information provided, it is highly likely that your grandfather intended to transfer the car to you after his death as a Wasiyyat.
You may treat the car as a bequest and thank your grandfather by making sincere Dua for him.
References:
(أَنَّ مَنْ أَدْلَى بِشَخْصٍ لَا يَرِثُ مَعَهُ) كَابْنِ الِابْنِ لَا يَرِثُ مَعَ الِابْنِ
ص780 – كتاب حاشية ابن عابدين رد المحتار ط الحلبي – فصل في العصبات – المكتبة الشاملة
قَوْلُهُ وَمَا يَجْرِي مَجْرَاهُ إلَخْ) فِي الْخَانِيَّةِ قَالَ أَوْصَيْت لِفُلَانٍ بِكَذَا وَلِفُلَانٍ بِكَذَا وَجَعَلْت رُبْعَ دَارِي صَدَقَةً لِفُلَانٍ،
ص650 – كتاب حاشية ابن عابدين رد المحتار ط الحلبي – كتاب الوصايا – المكتبة الشاملة
وَيُسْتَحَبُّ أَنْ يُوصِيَ الْإِنْسَانُ بِدُونِ الثُّلُثِ سَوَاءٌ كَانَتْ الْوَرَثَةُ أَغْنِيَاءَ أَوْ فُقَرَاءَ، كَذَا فِي الْهِدَايَةِ وَالْأَفْضَلُ لِمَنْ لَهُ مَالٌ قَلِيلٌ أَنْ لَا يُوصِيَ إذَا كَانَتْ لَهُ وَرَثَةٌ وَالْأَفْضَلُ لِمَنْ لَهُ مَالٌ كَثِيرٌ أَنْ لَا يَتَجَاوَزَ عَنْ الثُّلُثِ فِيمَا لَا مَعْصِيَةَ فِيهِ، كَذَا فِي خِزَانَةِ الْمُفْتِينَ.
ص90 – كتاب الفتاوى العالمكيرية الفتاوى الهندية – كتاب الوصايا وفيه عشرة أبواب – المكتبة الشاملة
وَأَمَّا شَرَائِطُهَا فَكَوْنُ الْمُوصِي أَهْلًا لِلتَّبَرُّعِ، وَأَنْ لَا يَكُونَ مَدْيُونًا، وَكَوْنُ الْمُوصَى لَهُ حَيًّا وَقْتَ الْوَصِيَّةِ،
ص460– كتاب البحر الرائق شرح كنز الدقائق ومنحة الخالق وتكملة الطوري – كتاب الوصايا – المكتبة الشاملة
Only Allah (عز و جل) knows best.
Written by Maulana Sakib Shadman
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
