bequest

Bequest of a non-Muslim

Q: I would like to know the ruling on wills from non-Muslim parents. I understand that one cannot recieve any money or possessions stipulated in the wills of non-Muslim parents unless it is less than 1/3, but if the will stipulated that the living parent gives the money or possessions throughout the life until it is paid is that permissible?

Performing Hajj for a person who did not make any bequest for Hajj-e-badal

Q: My mother passed away 38 years ago. She made her niyyat to perform her hajj but she passed away before she could do it. My mother had two children from a previous marriage from which one son passed away twelve years ago without doing his hajj. Almost three years ago, my father also passed away without doing his hajj. He left a house behind which we, as his children, are in the process of selling. After selling the house, can we use the money, which is our inheritance, to pay someone to perform hajj-e-badal on behalf of my mother, father and brother? 

Bequest for heirs

Q: We are in the process of winding up my father's estate, who passed away a couple of years ago, and are unclear on a specific scenario we have picked up.

My father had a number of investment policies which were registered under his name but, as required with most investments, had listed certain individuals as beneficiaries in the event of his death. The beneficiaries he listed were his wife and some of his children (so the people that naturally would qualify to inherit from his estate in any case).

The question I have around this is, according to Islamic law, should the person listed on the investment as beneficiary inherit the payout or should the investment be included in the estate and the total from the estate be distributed according to the Islamic law of succession and inheritance?

I hope I have provided sufficient detail to enable you to make an informed decision.

Bequest for a property to be given to someone after one's death

Q: "A" nominated the name of "BC" in immovable property during his life time at the society records, stating that after his death "BC" will be the owner of the immovable property, in the presence of his other legal heirs/family members and the other legal heirs knows the same, thereafter "A" died, whether the nominees "BC" will be the sole co-owners of the said immovable property or other legal heirs of the deceased will have right over the said property, as per Islam, Please answer.

Winding up an Estate

Q: My Father passed away recently and he did not have a will, he is succeeded by my mother, sister and my 3 brothers. He has said verbally what should happen to his estate but nothing in writing. Just wanted to know how do we sort out the estate?