Interest-based profits are not included in the estate
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Fatwa number ( 15840 )
Q: My son was involved in an accident when he was three years old, which resulted in severe head injuries and brain damage. He remained in a coma in this state for six years until Allah took his soul, when he was nine years old. I filed a lawsuit against the responsible party, and it ended in a settlement after five years to pay a specific sum of money. However, the court ruled that the amount should remain in the United States in a joint account in my name and under the guardianship
of the court, according to the system followed there. After the child’s death, permission was granted to transfer the amount to the Kingdom along with an additional amount they call interest. I separated this amount and placed it in a separate account from the principal amount, after I received it. The question: 1 - Does the principal amount belong to me alone, or does it fall under the rules of inheritance? Knowing that I share in the private money with my brother, does this amount fall under this partnership or not? 2 - How should I deal with the additional amount exceeding the principal? Should I add it to the principal or remove it? If so, what are its uses? Knowing that I did not request that the principal amount be placed in an account that generates interest. Please inform us, may Allah reward you, and may He benefit us with your knowledge.
A: First: The money paid for your son’s injury is considered part of his estate and is distributed to his legal heirs. Second: The interest-based profits added to the money while it remained abroad are riba (usury or interest) and must be disposed of by spending them on acts of charity. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: My son was involved in an accident when he was three years old, which resulted in severe head injuries and brain damage. He remained in a coma in this state for six years until Allah took his soul, when he was nine years old. I filed a lawsuit against the responsible party, and it ended in a settlement after five years to pay a specific sum of money. However, the court ruled that the amount should remain in the United States in a joint account in my name and under the guardianship
of the court, according to the system followed there. After the child’s death, permission was granted to transfer the amount to the Kingdom along with an additional amount they call interest. I separated this amount and placed it in a separate account from the principal amount, after I received it. The question: 1 - Does the principal amount belong to me alone, or does it fall under the rules of inheritance? Knowing that I share in the private money with my brother, does this amount fall under this partnership or not? 2 - How should I deal with the additional amount exceeding the principal? Should I add it to the principal or remove it? If so, what are its uses? Knowing that I did not request that the principal amount be placed in an account that generates interest. Please inform us, may Allah reward you, and may He benefit us with your knowledge.
A: First: The money paid for your son’s injury is considered part of his estate and is distributed to his legal heirs. Second: The interest-based profits added to the money while it remained abroad are riba (usury or interest) and must be disposed of by spending them on acts of charity. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.