Fatwa No : 84998
To bequeath in favor of daughters

To bequeath in favor of daughters

What do the esteemed Muftis say regarding the following issue that I own a house, and although I have registered the ownership documents on the name of my only son, I have not formally handed over possession to him. I am still living in the house along with my wife and children. However, after his marriage, my son under the influence of his wife has started abusing me and my wife, and now he wants to evict us from the house.
In such a situation, does he become the rightful owner of the house? And is his behavior towards his parents justified in any way?
I have also prepared a written will in favor of my four daughters concerning this house. What will be the legal and Shariah status of that will after my death?

الجوابُ حامِدا ًو مُصلیِّا ً

1. If the statement of the questioner is true and based on fact, and no falsehood or misrepresentation has been made, meaning that he has only registered the house on his son’s name but has not granted him full possession and control over it, and the questioner is still residing in the house with his family, then according to the Shariah, the gift (hibah) is not considered complete merely by naming the son in the documents. Therefore, the house remains the full property of the questioner.
As for the son’s behavior towards his parents, it is highly inappropriate and wrong. Such conduct makes him sinful. It is obligatory upon the son to repent, seek forgiveness from his parents with utmost humility, and from now on, treat them with obedience and respect, thereby protecting himself from accountability in both this world and the Hereafter.
2. Since a bequest (wasiyyah) in favor of an heir is not valid under Shariah, the will made by the questioner in favor of his daughters will not be enforceable after his death, as it involves heirs. Instead, the entire estate will be distributed among the legal heirs according to their respective shares prescribed by Islamic law.

مأخَذُ الفَتوی

کمافي أحكام القرآن للجصاص: قال الله تعالى وقضى ربك ألا تعبدوا إلا إياه وبالوالدين إحسانا وقضى ربك معناه أمر ربك وأمر بالوالدين إحسانا وقيل معناه وأوصى بالوالدين إحسانا والمعنى واحد لأن الوصية أمر وقد أوصى الله تعالى ببر الوالدين والإحسان إليهما في غير موضع من كتابه ( الى قوله) قوله تعالى ولا تنهرهما معناه لا تزجر هما على وجه الاستخفاف بهما والإغلاظ لهما اھ (5/ 19)۔
كما في الدر المختار : و) شرائط صحتها (في الموهوب أن يكون مقبوضا غير مشاع مميزا غير مشغول) كما سيتضح. ( الى قوله) (وتتم) الهبة (بالقبض) الكامل (ولو الموهوب شاغلا لملك الواهب لا مشغولا به) والأصل أن الموهوب إن مشغولا بملك الواهب منع تمامها، (5/ 690)
ففي البحر الرائق: إن الوصية للوارث لا تجوز إلا بإجازة الورثة اھ (8/ 460)۔
و في اللباب في شرح الكتاب: (إلا أن يجيزها الورثة) بعد موته وهم كبار؛ لأن الامتناع كان لحقهم، فتجوز بإجازتهم، وإن أجاز بعضهم دون بعض جاز على المجيز بقدر حصته اھ (ص: 414) والله اعلم بالصواب