How Should a Gifted House Be Inherited After a Wife’s Death? Islamic Inheritance Rules

Islamic Inheritance of a Gifted House: Who Inherits When a Wife Has No Children?

Question: If a woman has no children and leaves behind a house gifted to her by her husband, how should it be distributed among the surviving relatives, including the husband’s parents, siblings, nephews, and nieces? Will there be any heirs from the woman’s side?

Answer: If the husband gifted the house to his wife during his lifetime, the house belongs to the wife. After the wife’s death, her heirs will inherit the house, and the husband’s heirs will not receive any share. The individuals mentioned in the question (husband’s parents, siblings, nephews, and nieces) will not receive any share from this house. The wife’s parents, siblings, etc., will be the heirs, provided it is established that the house belonged to the wife.

Therefore, it is essential to have a meeting between both families with a knowledgeable scholar present to determine whether the house was indeed gifted to the wife or if it remained the husband’s property. Only then should the inheritance be distributed to avoid disputes and misunderstandings between the families.

 Sheikh Maqbool Ahmed Salafi Hafizahullah

❪Jeddah Dawah Center, Hayy Al-Salamah – Saudi Arabia❫