Fatwa ID: 03500

Answered by: Aalimah Nasima Umm Hamza

Question

Salam. My dad has passed away. He has a traffic ticket. Will that be counted as a debt?

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

In The Name Of Allah, The Most-Gracious, The Most-Merciful

Answer:

Please accept our condolences on the death of your father. May Allah (swt) forgive his sins and grant him a high maqam in Jannah.

Usually, parking fines and tickets can be wavered after death at the discretion of the council or borough which they occurred under. This would require you to contact the council or borough individually and find out if the fine can be wavered. However, please be advised that this can be a long drawn-out process, which can take a long period of time to waver.

From the Islamic perspective, any outstanding money owed is considered a debt. Therefore after death, this should be taken out of the wealth or estate of the deceased before any bequests or inheritance being shared out.

Allah (swt) says-

مِن بَعْدِ وَصِيَّةٍ يُوصِينَ بِهَا أَوْ دَيْنٍ

“… after any bequest, they may have made or debt…” (Surah An-Nisa, Verse 12)

Only Allah knows best

Written by Alimah Nasima Umm Hamza

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham