Question
Reference number: 578233 | Inheritance, Bequests, Endowment, Personal Status | April 5, 2019
How should the inheritance that a dead wife had left be distributed whether such inheritance is cash money or gold?
Answer
Praise Be to Allah and Peace Be Upon His Messenger.
Once the dead wife left some money and gold, and there are no debts or bequest, her inheritance should be distributed according to Islamic law. If she had children, whether her husband is their father, or they are her children from her ex-husband, then the husband is allowed take the quarter of her inheritance. If she had no children at all, then her husband can take the half; the rest of her inheritance should be distributed to other family members according to the law. However, if she had left a bequest, then the bequest should be performed first taking into account that the bequest should not be more than a third of her money; after performing the bequest or paying the debts, if there are any, the rest should be distributed according to what has been described.