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Topic: Ruling on a Bequest (Waṣiyyah) in Favour of an Adopted (Non-Heir) Daughter

(No-48269)

Q Respected Mufti Sahib.
A deceased woman had an adopted (non-biological) daughter to whom she made a bequest (waṣiyyah) of her property. However, the deceased woman also has her legal Islamic heirs.
Kindly clarify whether the adopted daughter is entitled to inherit the deceased's entire estate by virtue of the bequest, or whether the legal heirs are also entitled to their prescribed shares in the inheritance according to Islamic law.

a
It should be understood that an adopted daughter does not become a legal heir merely by virtue of adoption.
Therefore, it is permissible for a person to make a bequest (waṣiyyah) in favour of an adopted daughter, as she is regarded as a non-heir (غیر وارث). However, such a bequest may only be executed from one-third (1/3) of the deceased's estate after settling any outstanding debts, and funeral costs if the husband is not alive.
If the deceased has made a bequest for non-heir exceeding one-third of the estate, then the excess amount will only be valid if all the legal heirs are adults (بالغ) and unanimously consent to it after the death of the deceased. If even one adult heir withholds consent, or if any of the heirs are minors, the bequest cannot be executed beyond one-third of the estate.
After fulfilling the deceased's debts and executing the valid bequest from one-third of the estate, the remaining estate must be distributed among the legal Islamic heirs in accordance with the prescribed laws of inheritance laid down by the Sharia.

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دلائل:

القرآن الكريم: (النساء، الآية: 12)
وَلَكُمْ نِصْفُ مَا تَرَكَ أَزْوَٰجُكُمْ إِن لَّمْ يَكُن لَّهُنَّ وَلَدٌ ۚ فَإِن كَانَ لَهُنَّ وَلَدٌ فَلَكُمُ ٱلرُّبُعُ مِمَّا تَرَكْنَ ۚ مِنۢ بَعْدِ وَصِيَّةٍۢ يُوصِينَ بِهَآ أَوْ دَيْنٍۢ ۚ وَلَهُنَّ ٱلرُّبُعُ مِمَّا تَرَكْتُمْ إِن لَّمْ يَكُن لَّكُمْ وَلَدٌ فَإِن كَانَ لَكُمْ وَلَدٌ فَلَهُنَّ ٱلثُّمُنُ مِمَّا تَرَكْتُم ۚ مِّنۢ بَعْدِ وَصِيَّةٍۢ تُوصُونَ بِهَآ أَوْ دَيْنٍۢ ۗ وَإِن كَانَ رَجُلٌ يُورَثُ كَلَٰلَةً أَوِ ٱمْرَأَةٌ وَلَهُۥٓ أَخٌ أَوْ أُخْتٌ فَلِكُلِّ وَٰحِدٍۢ مِّنْهُمَا ٱلسُّدُسُ ۚ فَإِن كَانُوٓاْ أَكْثَرَ مِن ذَٰلِكَ فَهُمْ شُرَكَآءُ فِى ٱلثُّلُثِ ۚ مِنۢ بَعْدِ وَصِيَّةٍۢ يُوصَىٰ بِهَآ أَوْ دَيْنٍ غَيْرَ مُضَآرٍّۢ ۚ وَصِيَّةً مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَلِيمٌ

السراجي في الميراث: (ص: 3، ط: المطبعة العلمية)
تتعلق بتركة الميت حقوق أربعة مرتبة، ثم تنفذ وصاياه من ثلث ما بقي بعد الدين.

الفتاوى الهندية (90/6، ط: دار الفكر)
ولا تجوز بما زاد على الثلث إلا أن يجيزه الورثة بعد موته وهم كبار، ولا معتبر بإجازتهم في حال حياته، كذا في الهداية.... ولا تجوز الوصية للوارث عندنا إلا أن يجيزها الورثة.

And Allah Almighty knows best.
Darul Ifta Al-Ikhlas, Karachi

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