Fatwa ID: 07533

 

Answered by: Maulana Nuski Cassim 

 

Question:

 

My question is that my sister found money in her husband’s house ( joint family) twice 5000 and than 2500. Her husband has two brothers and the relationship of her husband and her with her father in law is not good. She knew the money belonged to her father in law but couldn’t give it because he would blame her that she stole from him.

 

Now her father in law passed away. What should she do with the money totalling 7500. 

 

 

 

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

 

Answer:

 

Allah (SWT) mentions in Surah Al-Nisa, verse 58, the following:

 

إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَنْ تُؤَدُّوا الْأَمَانَاتِ إِلَى أَهْلِهَا وَإِذَا حَكَمْتُمْ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ أَنْ تَحْكُمُوا بِالْعَدْلِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ نِعِمَّا يَعِظُكُمْ بِهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ  سَمِيعًا بَصِيرًا 

 

“Indeed, Allah commands you to return trusts to their [rightful] owners…” 

 

 

In addition, the Prophet (saw) is reported to have said, in a narration found in Sunan al-Timirdhi: 

 

“عَلَى الْيَدِ مَا أَخَذَتْ حَتَّى تُؤَدِّيَ” 

 

“Upon the hand is [the responsibility of] that which it took, until it returns it [to its rightful owner].”

 

 

The $7500 your sister holds is a trust. [1]

 

The money was unfortunately not distributed as part of your sister’s father-in-law’s inheritance, owning to the fact that he was unaware of this wealth. 

 

Though he has passed on, it still remains an obligation, as we know with certainty that it belonged to him. 

 

 

The Prophet (saw) said: 

 

“ومَنْ تَرَكَ مَالاً فَلِوَرَثَتِهِ” 

 

“Whoever dies and leaves behind wealth, then [that wealth] is for his heirs.” (اخرجه البخاري ٢٢٩٨ و مسلم  ١٦١٩)

 

 

As such, the $7500 would need to be returned to the nearest male relative so that they may re-distribute the amount accordingly amongst the heirs. [2][3]

 

 

 

Only Allah knows best.

Written by Maulana Nuski Cassim

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham 

 

 

 

 

 

1.

اللُّقْطَة: أمانة في يد الملتقط

 

(مختصر القدوري، كتاب اللقطة، صفحة ٥٤٠، مكتبة البشرى)

 

 

2.

“و أَقْرَب العَصَبَات البنون، ثم بنوهم، ثم الاب، ثم الجد، ثم بنو الأب، و هم الإخوة، ثم بنوالجد و هم الأعمام، ثم بنو أب الجد“

 

(مختصر القدوري، باب العصبات، صفحة ٨٧١، مكتبة البشرى)

 

 

3.

وإذا استوى بنو أب في درجة، و كانو كلهم لأب و أم أو لأب فقط، اشتركوا في الميراث

 

(اللباب في شرح الكتاب، كتاب العصبات، صفحة ٥٩٩، مكتبة البشرى)