Fatwa No : 94090
The ruling on Zakat for years before reconciliation and distribution of an inheritance

The ruling on Zakat for years before reconciliation and distribution of an inheritance

The mother passed away 14 years ago. Her heirs include her husband, 3 sons, and 1 daughter. All the children are married. The woman’s inheritance included gold jewelry. Some time after her death, one son took a bracelet from the gold in exchange for his share, and another son took a ring for his share. Regarding the remaining gold, it was agreed that whatever decision the father made would be accepted, and all the heirs consented to this arrangement.

The father did not know the Islamic rules of inheritance distribution, so he could not divide it properly. Therefore, he had the gold placed in storage under the bed, intending to deal with it later. During all these years, no zakat was paid on the gold, nor was it used.

Now, since the father’s health is not good, the bed was removed from the room, and the gold was found in the storage underneath. The father also has some mental and memory-related issues, so the eldest son now handles and makes decisions regarding all his affairs and matters.

All three sons now say that they do not want anything more from this gold, and that the father also does not need it. Therefore, they have given all the remaining gold to the daughter.

1. The question is: Is this distribution correct, and what should the daughter do?
2. The second question is: Since the gold remained unused for 14 years, is zakat due for all those 14 years? What should the daughter do?

الجوابُ حامِدا ًو مُصلیِّا ً

In the case referred, after the deceased mother passed away, whatever inheritance she left in the form of jewelry: if two sons had taken the said items and, in return, had relinquished their shares, then it was valid for them to take that compensation. Consequently, their right of inheritance in the remaining gold has now ended, and they no longer have the authority to claim it.

However, the brother and sister who did not take any compensation from that gold remained entitled, along with their father, to their respective Islamic shares in that jewelry. If the brother who did not take a share and the father mutually agreed — with proper ownership transfer and possession — to give all that gold to the daughter, then this act is considered a gift (hibah) from them. As a result, the daughter has now become the owner of all that jewelry.

Therefore, in the future, she will be required to pay zakat on this jewelry along with her other assets on which Zakath is due . However, for the period before the distribution, no zakat is obligatory upon the heirs for the time that had already passed over this jewelry.

مأخَذُ الفَتوی

كما في الدر المختار: ثم شرع في مسألة ‌التخارج فقال (ومن صالح من الورثة) والغرماء على شيء معلوم منها (طرح) أي اطرح سهمه من التصحيح وجعل كأنه استوفى نصيبه (ثم قسم الباقي من التصحيح) أو الديون (على سهام من بقي منهم) اهـ
وفي رد المحتار تحت قوله: (ثم شرع في مسألة ‌التخارج) تفاعل من الخروج وهو في الاصطلاح تصالح الورثة على إخراج بعضهم عن الميراث على شيء من التركة عين أو دين قال في سكب الأنهر وأصله ما روي أن عبد الرحمن بن عوف - رضي الله تعالى عنه - طلق في مرض موته إحدى نسائه الأربع ثم مات وهي في العدة فورثها عثمان - رضي الله تعالى عنه - ربع الثمن فصالحوها عنه على ثلاثة وثمانين ألفا من الدراهم وفي رواية من الدنانير وفي رواية ثمانين ألفا وكان ذلك بمحضر من الصحابة من غير نكير اهـ [كتاب الفرائض، باب المخارج، ج:6 ص:811 ط: سعيد)]
وفي الفتاوى الهندية: وأما سائر الديون المقر بها فهي على ثلاث مراتب عند أبي حنيفة - رحمه الله تعالى - ضعيف، وهو كل دين ملكه بغير فعله لا بدلا عن شيء نحو الميراث أو بفعله لا بدلا عن شيء كالوصية أو بفعله بدلا عما ليس بمال كالمهر وبدل الخلع والصلح عن دم العمد والدية وبدل الكتابة لا زكاة فيه عنده حتى يقبض نصابا ويحول عليه الحول. [كتاب الزكاة، الباب الأول في تفسير الزكاة وصفتها وشرائطها، ج:1 ص:175 ط: رشيدية)]