Is It Better to Take My Share of the Inheritance or Relinquish It to Maintain Ties with My Stepfamily?
Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel
Question
Is it better to take my share of the inheritance or relinquish it to maintain ties with my stepfamily? Is it permissible to waive my share without first taking possession, avoiding double taxation?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate
I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question.
Inheritance share is an Allah given right that one can accept. If someone relinquishes their share, they will be rewarded for allowing others to benefit and for their intentions.
However, in your case, you would know better whether relinquishing your share could help maintain good family ties with your stepfamily, which is a commendable intention. Numerous hadiths highlight the great reward for maintaining family ties.
You should not request to waive your share; instead, hold it for now without taking possession and accept it later.
Good Relations with Family Increase Wealth, Extend Life
Anas Ibn Malik (Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Whoever is pleased to have his provision expanded and his life span extended, let him keep good relations with his family.” [Bukhari; Muslim]
Allah Maintains Relations if Family Ties Are Respected
Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbas (Allah be pleased with him): The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace), “Verily, the womb is a branch derived from the name of the Most Merciful. He will maintain whoever maintains its relations, and He will cut off whoever cuts off its relations.” [Musnad Ahmad]
Related
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I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally-trained scholar who has studied in the UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan, and Turkey. He started his early education in the UK. He went on to complete the hifz of the Quran in India, then enrolled in an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied the secular and ‘Aalimiyya sciences. He then traveled to Karachi, Pakistan. He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for several years. He has taught hifz of the Quran, Tajwid, Fiqh, and many other Islamic sciences to children and adults onsite and online extensively in the UK and Ireland. He taught at a local Islamic seminary for 12 years in the UK, where he was a librarian and a teacher of Islamic sciences. He currently resides in the UK with his wife. His interest is a love of books and gardening.
