Receiving items of inheritance as a gift from the heirs of one's friend

Q: I am an expat in Saudi Arabia. One of my friends passed away here last December and his family had to move back to India. They sold most of the major items and got money and the remaining smaller items they gifted to others (Example: dinner plates, a wall clock, 3 unanimated wall hanging sceneries, etc. they gifted us and few items to others also).

Is it Ok to keep and use those items or must they be donated in charity? We are not need in need of those items and we just kept those items because we were very close to that family. What is the better option?

A: If the inheritance of the deceased was distributed correctly among the heirs according to the stipulated shares of inheritance, and thereafter some of the heirs gifted you these items from their share, then it is permissible for you to accept them. In this case, since you have become the owner of these items, you may do with them as you please.

And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.

 

Answered by:

Mufti Zakaria Makada

Checked & Approved:

Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)

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