My father passed away and left behind a car. I have brothers, some of whom are adults and some are minors. Is it permissible for me to use this car, or must I sell it?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : The questioner says: My father passed away and left behind a car. I have brothers, some of whom are adults and some are minors. Is it permissible for me to use this car, or must I sell it and divide its value among my brothers?
The Shaykh : This car that your father left behind belongs to all of his heirs. If there are minors among them, it is not permissible for you to use it for your personal interests. Yes, if you use it for the household’s needs from which these minors benefit, there is no harm. However, the best course of action is to estimate its value. If you want it, ask those who know car values to appraise it, then add its price to the estate and take it for yourself. This is safer and clears your conscience, because even if you use it for household needs that benefit these minors, you might use it for your personal needs without realizing it. I advise the questioner to estimate the value of this car and take it for himself if he is able to do so.
The Shaykh : This car that your father left behind belongs to all of his heirs. If there are minors among them, it is not permissible for you to use it for your personal interests. Yes, if you use it for the household’s needs from which these minors benefit, there is no harm. However, the best course of action is to estimate its value. If you want it, ask those who know car values to appraise it, then add its price to the estate and take it for yourself. This is safer and clears your conscience, because even if you use it for household needs that benefit these minors, you might use it for your personal needs without realizing it. I advise the questioner to estimate the value of this car and take it for himself if he is able to do so.