A woman passed away and bequeathed one-third of her wealth to her son, but the son is a spendthrift. Is such a bequest valid, and is the son left to dispose of this wealth as he pleases?

The questioner : He says: My wife passed away, and she had bequeathed one-third of her wealth to her son when he reached the age of maturity. I preserved that one-third until her son reached the age of maturity, and then I handed it over to him. However, he is poor in managing it; he does not work to develop or increase it, but rather spends from it until it decreases, without doing anything to increase it. So I ask, first, is such a bequest valid or not? And should I leave her son to dispose of this one-third as he pleases, or should I take it back from him until I know that he manages it well? Please advise us, may Allah reward you with good.

The Shaykh : This bequest is valid, but she stated in her bequest that it would remain in your hand until her son reached the age of maturity. The meaning of her son reaching the age of maturity is that he is prudent. Therefore, it is not permissible for you to hand it over to him until you know that he has become prudent in his management. Since the matter has already occurred, you must take the matter to the court in your country so that they can do what is obligatory regarding this issue. Yes.