If the heir knows that his deceased relative consumed riba (usury or interest), is it permissible for him to take his share of the inheritance?
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The questioner : If the heir knows that his deceased relative consumed riba (usury or interest), is it permissible for him to take his share of the inheritance?
The Shaykh : That is, if we know that the deceased was dealing in riba (usury or interest), is it permissible for his heirs to take their shares from the estate? We say: Yes, it is permissible, and the sin is upon the deceased himself. However, if the riba has not yet been received, then we tell the heirs: Receive the riba from the one who owes it, but do not consume it. Instead, give it in charity, or place it in mosques, on roads, or in charitable works. Do you understand? As for what has already been received, the one who received it is the deceased, and the sin is upon him. As for what has not been received, it is not permissible for the heirs to receive it for themselves; rather, they should receive it in order to spend it on charitable works. Someone might ask: Why should they receive it, for example, when it is riba? We say: Because the usurer who paid the riba committed it, accepted it, and dealt with it.
The Shaykh : That is, if we know that the deceased was dealing in riba (usury or interest), is it permissible for his heirs to take their shares from the estate? We say: Yes, it is permissible, and the sin is upon the deceased himself. However, if the riba has not yet been received, then we tell the heirs: Receive the riba from the one who owes it, but do not consume it. Instead, give it in charity, or place it in mosques, on roads, or in charitable works. Do you understand? As for what has already been received, the one who received it is the deceased, and the sin is upon him. As for what has not been received, it is not permissible for the heirs to receive it for themselves; rather, they should receive it in order to spend it on charitable works. Someone might ask: Why should they receive it, for example, when it is riba? We say: Because the usurer who paid the riba committed it, accepted it, and dealt with it.