Demise of a partner
Q: Two brothers are partners in a property which generates monthly rentals. The one partner passed away recently (may Allah Ta'ala forgive him). Now that the one partner has passed away, does it mean that the living partner and the heirs of the deceased partner automatically become joint partners? How should the property be distributed now? Can the one party purchase the 50% share from the other party? The living partner wishes to give his 50% share in the property to his three daughters. Can he do this? If yes, does he require consent from the heirs of the deceased partner? Also, how should he actually carry out this transfer? If he merely has a document drawn up wherein, he wilfully transfers ownership of his share (gifts it) to his daughters and has an independent person sign on his behalf, or merely verbally mentions this in the presence of two witnesses, will this be in order?
A:
1. With the demise of one partner, the partnership automatically terminates. The value of the deceased partner’s share will be included in his estate which will have to be distributed among his heirs according to the stipulated laws of inheritance. If the living partner and the heirs of the deceased partner mutually wish to enter into a new partnership then they may do so. In this case, the 50% rentals will be distributed among the heirs according to the stipulated laws of inheritance. If they do not wish to enter into a new partnership, then the building can be divided into two parts. Half the building will be owned by the living partner and the other half will be owned by the heirs of the deceased partner. Alternatively, if one party is prepared to purchase the share of the other party, then with mutual agreement, this will also be permissible.
2. As long as the above-mentioned issues are not resolved, it will not be possible for the living partner to gift his share to his daughters. It is only after his share is separated from the shares of the heirs of the deceased partner that it will be permissible, on condition that the gifting is done correctly.
And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
(وتبطل الشركة) أي شركة العقد (بموت أحدهما) علم الآخر أو لا لأنه عزل حكمي (الدر المختار 4/327)
(وعنان إن تضمنت وكالة فقط) بالرفع عطف على مفاوضة بيان للنوع الثاني من شركة العقد وفي القاموس أنها على وزن كتاب في الشركة أن يكون في شيء خاص دون سائر مالهما أو هو أن يعارض رجلا بالشراء فيقول أشركني معك أو هو أن يكونا سواء في الشركة لأن عنان الدابة طاقتان متساويتان اهـ (البحر الرائق 5/187)
(شركة الملك أن يملك اثنان عينا إرثا أو شراء) وكذا استيلاء أو اتهابا أو ووصية أو اختلاط مال بغير صنع أو بصنعهما بحيث لا يتميز أو يعسر كالجنس بالجنس أو المائع بالمائع أو خلط الحنطة بالشعير وهذا النوع من الشركة كان واقعا في زمنه عليه الصلاة والسلام كالشركة في المواريث والغنائم ونحوهما (البحر الرائق 3/313)
فصل في شرائط ركن الهبة ... وأما الشرائط فأنواع بعضها يرجع إلى نفس الركن وبعضها يرجع إلى الواهب وبعضها يرجع إلى الموهوب وبعضها يرجع إلى الموهوب له ... (وأما) ما يرجع إلى الموهوب فأنواع ... (ومنها) أن يكون محوزا فلا تجوز هبة المشاع فيما يقسم وتجوز فيما لا يقسم كالعبد والحمام والدن ونحوها وهذا عندنا (بدائع الصنائع 6/119)
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