['Aalim Network QR] Inheritance of Non-Muslim Relatives

[Mustafa Rawji <mrawji@sciborg.uwaterloo.ca>]

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|       In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the All-Merciful       |\
|  Greeting of Allah be upon Muhammad and the pure members of his House |\
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Salaamun alaykum,

	The reply to the following question was kindly provided by Shaykh Rasheed.

Wasalaam,

Mustafa Rawji
Acting Moderator, 'Aalim Network

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QUESTION:

   Do non-Muslim relatives inherit equally with Muslim relatives at the same
level of inheritance?

ANSWER:

Islam does not accord non-Muslim relatives the right to inherit from a Muslim.
When a believer dies only his Muslim relatives have the right to inherit
according to a predefined process. If a Muslim would like to give some of his
property to his non-Muslim relatives, it would be better if this were done
during his lifetime. After death, his estate cannot be legally distributed to
non-Muslims.

Ayatullah Al-'Uzma Sayyid Seestani in his Risaalah [al-Masaa`il al-Muntakhabah]
says:

"It is to be taken into consideration for the person inheriting (Waarith) that
he should be Muslim when the deceased person (Muwarrith) is a Muslim.
Therefore, a non-Muslim does not inherit from a Muslim although a Muslim may 
inherit
from a non-Muslim..." (Issue 1341, pg. 524).

Was-Salaam,

Ali Rasheed