Question:
If a son inherits money from one of his parents and this money was to be haram, and the heir i.e the son knew that the money is haram, is it permissible for him to inherit it?
Answer:
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymīn, may Allah have mercy on him, said:
“Some of the scholars have said:
What was made impermissible due to how it’s obtained, then the sin is only on those that obtain it, and not upon those who take it through permissible ways from them, contrary to what is impermissible in and on itself, such as alcohol and what was robbed, and the likes.
This is a notable and strong position, the evidence being that the Prophet ﷺ bought food from a Jew for his household, and ate from the sheep which was given to him as a gift from the female Jew in Khaybar, he likewise answered the call (i.e invitation) of a Jew, and from whats known is, many of the Jews take from usury and eat from the impermissible.
Perhaps this statement is strengthened further by the statement of the Prophet ﷺ regarding the meat that was given as charity to Buraira:
(هو لها صدقة ولنا منها هدية)
“It was given as charity to her but it’s gifted to us”
[End of speech]
So based upon this establishment; it’s permissible for the son to inherit this money if it was obtained impermissibly, and it’s impermissible if it was impermissible in and on itself.
And Allah, the Most High knows best.
Answered by:
Shaykh Abu Hamza Hassan bin Muhammed Ba Shu’ayb – may Allah preserve him –
Source:
https://t.me/Bashuaib/396
Translated by:
Abu Ibrāhim Nāsir bin Rāshid Al-mamry