Do I Have to Name All My Heirs as Beneficiaries to My Pension?

Question:

Assalamu ‘alaykum.

My husband and I had our shariah-compliant Will drawn up a few months ago. We have only one child, a daughter who is 11 years old. My husband has to submit the beneficiary details for his Pension Fund to his work. He wants to put my name as the sole beneficiary. However, I’m concerned this would not fall into being Sharia-compliant? 

It’s a government pension so we also not sure what the implications are if we choose the estate option.

I would really appreciate guidance on what is permissible in this regard.

Answer:

Wa ‘alaykum assalam wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh

I pray you are well.

It’s fine to only have yourself as the named beneficiary to keep things simple, as long as your daughter receives her rightful share of the inheritance. If neither of his parents are around then you would inherit 1/8th and the rest would go to your daughter (Quduri, Matan al Quduri).

Besides that, there are no other Shari’a stipulations beyond “Indeed Allah commands you to give rights to those who they belong to” (Qur’an, 4:58).

May Allah grant you the best of both worlds.

[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History he moved to Damascus in 2007 where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital and he was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.