Can a woman accept estate gifted to her by her terminally ill sister , without informing her other siblings?
Dear Brother / Sister,
Firstly, if a person appropriates an estate at his/her pleasure (which does not only belong to that person); that person becomes responsible for not giving other heirs’ shares. Also that unethical behaviour is accepted as a rightful share. If there is an injustice, it is advisable to put right that injustice without any force and compelling. If that injustice passes to hereafter without correcting, the repentance offered there will not be accepted. And also, Allah, the Great Forgiver, forgives a believer’s all sins if s/he sincerely repents; except the rightful share s/he committed.
Secondly, your aunt’s younger sister should have asked for the consent of other rightful owners. Without informing them to sign the official papers is not ethical. She becomes responsible for that. And what she did is a rightful share as well. As we expressed above, if there is a possibility for her to recorrect this mistake with her own desire, it is best for her.
After all, if you have right to get your due through a legal way, you can do it. But if it is legally impossible to get your due back, our recommendation to you is to abstain from illegal actions.
“Then shall anyone who has done an atom's weight of good, see it! And anyone who has done an atom's weight of evil, shall see it.” (Quran: 99:7-8)
Questions on Islam
- Should we honour one brother's gift to another from a piece of family land after they have died?
- What does Quran say about nuclear vs extended families?
- Is the statement "The right of an older child over his younger sibling is like the right of the father" a hadith? Will you explain it?
- Marriage and Family Life
- What are our duties toward our close relatives and siblings?
- Could you please give information about the law of fraternity?
- Can a father deprive his children of the inheritance?
- If two people are milk siblings, are their own siblings regarded as milk siblings with their milk sibling’s siblings; and is hijab fard in their presence?
- Why is the share given to women in Islam regarding inheritance is half of that given to men? What is the arrangement Islam introduced regarding the share of women in inheritance and equality?
- 4. Surah An-Nisa (1- 33)

