Method of Distributing Property During Lifetime by a Person Suffering from Cancer

My brother, whose name is Khalid, has been suffering from bone cancer for about eight years. He is mentally sound sometimes he goes out into the street, sits for a while, chats with people, and then returns home. He wishes to distribute his property during his lifetime. He has two wives — from the first wife, he has four sons and six daughters; and from the second wife, he has one son and two daughters. Now, my brother wants to distribute his property among all of them during his lifetime. Kindly explain the correct method of distribution according to Islamic law. I shall be grateful and much obliged.

الجوابُ حامِدا ًو مُصلیِّا ً

It should be clarified that, based on the illness mentioned in the question, since the questioner's brother is able to go out and sit in the street, he is not considered to be suffering from a terminal illness (marad al-mawt). Therefore, he remains the sole owner of all his wealth and property, and he has full right to dispose of it as he wishes. He is not obligated to distribute it during his lifetime. Hence, if the questioner's brother wishes to distribute his wealth and property among his wives and children willingly and without any coercion during his lifetime, this is permissible in Shari‘ah. Such distribution is not considered inheritance but rather a hibah (gift). The better and recommended method of hibah is that he should, after keeping a reasonable portion for his and his wives’ remaining needs, distribute the rest of the wealth and property equally among his children and hand over full, legal ownership and possession to each of them. Merely assigning names on documents is not sufficient. Furthermore, in this act of gifting, it is better and preferable to treat all children equally, giving none less or more, as they are all his children. However, if he wishes to give a little more to a child due to their service, need, or piety, he is allowed to do so. Still, without any valid Shari‘ah reason, completely depriving any heir of his property is sinful.

مأخَذُ الفَتوی

كما في الدر المختار: (وتتم) الهبة (بالقبض) الكامل (ولو الموهوب شاغلا لملك الواهب لا مشغولا به) والأصل أن الموهوب إن مشغولا بملك الواهب منع تمامها، (5/ 690)
و في الفتاوى الهندية: ولو وهب رجل شيئا لأولاده في الصحة وأراد تفضيل البعض على البعض (إلی قوله) لا بأس به إذا لم يقصد به الإضرار وإن قصد به الإضرار سوى بينهم يعطي الابنة مثل ما يعطي للابن وعليه الفتوى هكذا في فتاوى قاضي خان وهو المختار كذا في الظهيرية اھ (4/ 391)
و في حاشية ابن عابدين (رد المحتار): (قوله وحده) مبتدأ وقوله مر إلخ خبر في الهندية المريض مرض الموت من لا يخرج لحوائجه خارج البيت، وهو الأصح اهـ و في الإسماعيلية من به بعض مرض يشتكي منه و في كثير من الأوقات يخرج إلى السوق ويقضي مصالحه لا يكون مريضا مرض الموت، وتعتبر تبرعاته من كل ماله، وإذا باع لوارثه أو وهبه لا يتوقف على إجازة باقي الورثة اھ (5/ 610)۔