Fatwa ID: 07268

Answered by: Maulana Sarfraz Mohammad

Question:

I have a provident fund, unit trust and retirement annuity, which are Shariah-approved. They require beneficiaries in case of my death.

Can I stipulate my wife for e.g. or do the Islamic laws of inheritance apply?

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

Answer:

Retirement funds and pensions that a person receives at old age or after retirement can be divided into two categories when it comes to inheritance.

1.  That which is given to the person while he is alive. With regard to this wealth, the person becomes the owner by taking possession of it while he is alive. If he dies while this wealth is in his savings, this will go into inheritance to be distributed.

2.  That which he did not take possession of but rather he gifts it to someone else to take if he dies. This will not go into his inheritance because he does not own the wealth and it is not in his possession.

In the above scenario, if the wife becomes the beneficiary the wealth will not go into the inheritance to be disturbed, but rather it will become her property.

«حاشية ابن عابدين = رد المحتار ط الحلبي» (6/ 759):

“لأن تركه الميت من الأموال صافيًا عن تعلق حق الغير بعين من الأموال، كما في شروح السراجية.

(امداد الفتاویٰ کتاب الفرائض ج 4 ص 342 ط:مکتبہ دارالعلوم کراچی)

” چوں کہ میراث اموال مملوکہ میں جاری ہوتی ہے اور یہ وظیفہ محض تبرع واحسان سرکار کا ہے بدون قبضہ مملوک نہیں ہوتا ،لہذا آئندہ جو وظیفہ ملے گا اس میں میراث جاری نہیں ہوگی ،سرکار کو اختیار ہے جس طرح چاہے تقسیم کردے۔“

Only Allahتعالي Knows Best.

Answered by Maulana Sarfraz Mohammad

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham