Question:
Salaam
When my sister and I were younger, I bought house with my sister’s name on the deed, with her knowing if something happens to me God forbid, she was to take care of our elderly father. She doesn’t put any down payment money on the house nor does she make payments on the mortgage. She does however help with some expenditures on the house like food and some fixings around the house etc. But doesn’t pay for anything else. Overall, she lived with me and dad over 7 years and she was not responsible for the mortgage and/or utilities just what I mentioned earlier. After my sister got married, I had her name removed from the deed and she agreed to in 2010 and my father continued to be cared for by me. 8 years went by after the deed was signed off, my sister had a child, later got sick and recently passed away. In 2012 I went through a rough time and sold my car to them, the agreement was made between me and my sister but the car was for my brother-in-law. They still owe me over on the car to date from date of purchase that was over 6 years ago. Late last year while my sister was really sick and after her passing, my brother-in-law came after me, blackmailing me, claiming that I owe my sister money for share she had in the house. He wants money from her share because her name was on the original deed. I checked with the attorney, he has no legal ground. My father is too sick to even say anything nor do I want to tell him anything that I am dealing with. However, I fear Allah, I would to know if Islamically I am obligated to pay him.
Insha-allah I look forward to hearing back from you.
Answer:
In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
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You state that:
1)You purchased the house.
2)You paid for the house.
3)You were responsible for all expenses of the house.
4)You put your sisters name in the deed merely to safeguard. Should anything happen to you, she would take care of your father living in the house.
Accordingly, you never gave the house to your sister.
You state you fear Allah. If what you said is true between you and Allah, then you were the owner of the house ever since it was bought. Your brother-in-law has no legitimate claim over the house.[i]
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Hammad Ibn Ismail Jogiat
Student - Darul Iftaa
Cambridge, Ontario, Canada
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
مختصر القدوري – أحمد بن محمد بن أحمد بن جعفر بن حمدان أبو الحسين القدوري (المتوفى: 428هـ) – دار الكتب العلمية (ص: 243)[i]
ويجوز للموصي الرجوع عن الوصية
فإن صرح بالرجوع أو فعل ما يدل على الرجوع كان رجوعا
العناية شرح الهداية – محمد بن محمد بن محمود، أكمل الدين أبو عبد الله ابن الشيخ شمس الدين ابن الشيخ جمال الدين الرومي البابرتي (المتوفى:
786هـ) – دار الفكر (436/10)
قَالَ (وَيَجُوزُ لِلْمُوصِي الرُّجُوعُ عَنْ الْوَصِيَّةِ) لِأَنَّهُ تَبَرُّعٌ لَمْ يَتِمَّ فَجَازَ الرُّجُوعُ عَنْهُ كَالْهِبَةِ وَقَدْ حَقَقْنَاهُ فِي كِتَابِ الْهِبَةِ،
الجوهرة النيرة على مختصر القدوري – أبو بكر بن علي بن محمد الحدادي العبادي الزَّبِيدِيّ اليمني الحنفي (المتوفى: 800هـ) – المطبعة الخيرية
(296/2)
قوله (ويجوز للموصي الرجوع عن الوصية) لأنها نوع تبرع لم تتم فجاز له الرجوع فيها كالهبة
البناية شرح الهداية – أبو محمد محمود بن أحمد بن موسى بن أحمد بن حسين الغيتابى الحنفى بدر الدين العينى (المتوفى: 855هـ) – دار الكتب
العلمية – بيروت، لبنان (411/13)
م: (قال) ش: أي القدوري م: (ويجوز للموصي الرجوع عن الوصية؛ لأنه) ش: أي لأن الوصية على تأويل الإيصاء. وفي بعض النسخ: لأنها، فلا يحتاج إلى التأويل م: (تبرع لم يتم) ش: لأنه مضاف إلى ما بعد الموت، والتبرع النافذ وهو الهبة يحتمل الرجوع، فالمضاف أولى واجتمع أهل العلم على جواز الرجوع للموصي في جميع ما أوصى كله أو بعضه
فتاوى حقانية (ج:6 ص:503)
كتاب النوازل (ج:18 ص:103)