Q. In a discussion with a friend, I mentioned that Muslims who commit sins go to hell until their sins have been washed away and then they are transferred to heaven. He objected to that, saying that once a person is committed to hell, he or she stays there for ever and ever. He would not accept the word of any scholar. Could you please confirm the correct view.
Thameem,Jeddah
A. I am always reluctant to discuss the point of who goes where in the life to come. Heaven and hell belong to God, and He decides who goes where and for how long. When we speak about this issue, we must not make any firm statement, because we do not know who earns God’s forgiveness, and who incurs His punishment. Even if we see someone committing many types of sin, we do not know how he will be and what he will do toward the end of his life. He may do some good actions, with a pure heart and total dedication. That may earn him God’s forgiveness, and perhaps a rich reward.
In the Qur’an, God tells us that everyone, no matter who he is, will be certain to come close to hell, but then people will be either saved or left there. “By your Lord, We shall most certainly bring them forth together with the evil ones, and then We shall most certainly gather them, on their knees, around hell; and thereupon We shall drag out from every group those who had been most obstinate in their rebellion against the Most Gracious. For, indeed, We know best who most deserve to be burnt in the fire of hell. There is not one among you who shall not pass over it: this is, for your Lord, a decree that must be fulfilled. But We shall save those who are God-fearing, and leave the wrongdoers there, on their knees.”
There is a clear reference here to people going out of hell after having gone into it. Moreover, the Prophet says: “A person with even an atom-weight of faith shall not remain in hell.” This Hadith tells us that no matter how great one’s sins are and how weak one’s faith is, a person will not stay in hell for ever, if he or she believe in God’s oneness.
Inheritance of grandchildren
Q. Three of my grandfather’s four sons died during his lifetime, leaving behind children of their own. Besides that, my grandfather has four daughters. Can his grandchildren inherit him, knowing that some of his property was originally earned by his deceased sons, but registered in his name? If it is not possible, may I ask that, since a grandfather may inherit from his grandchildren, why cannot the same process operate in reverse?
M.A. Azmi, Alkhobar
A. There is a direct line of inheritance in the Islamic system, which goes down to include children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, and goes up to include parents, grandparents and great grandparents, etc. However, this is subject to a rule that inheritance does not move a step higher or lower while there are heirs in the step nearer to the deceased. Thus, a grandfather does not inherit from his grandson, should his own son be alive. A grandson does not inherit from his grandfather if his own father, i.e. the deceased’s son is alive.
However, in the case of a grandfather surviving his son who has children of his own, those grandchildren may inherit on the basis of the compulsory will principle. This principle means that the grandfather shall be deemed to have made a will in favor of his grandchildren to a maximum of the lesser amount of either one-third of his property or his deceased son’s share had he survived him. This will is deemed to be made even though it does not exist.
Having said that, I would like to add that Islam encourages a grandfather in such a situation to make a will in favor of his grandchildren, so as to be fair to them. In the case of our reader, the grandchildren may inherit on the basis I have explained. Moreover, if some of the property registered in the grandfather’s name actually belongs to his deceased sons, he should immediately return it to the estates of his deceased sons so that their children may benefit by it. It is not right that he should retain it in his name, because it may all go to his surviving children who have no claim to it.
As I have explained, the Islamic system of inheritance works equally in the cases of grandchildren and grandparents. There is no distinction of degree.
Who inherits me?
Q. May I ask how my estate will be divided, considering that I have one wife, one son and one daughter, but both my parents are dead. I also have one sister who has one son and two daughters of her own.
M. Z. A. Faruqui, Riyadh
A. If you are thinking about dividing your property now, then you should not, because you do not know who of your heirs will survive you and who will not. Obviously, those who do not have no share in your inheritance.
We have been strongly urged by God’s messenger (peace be upon him) not to precipitate God’s will. If, on the other hand, you wish to know what will happen after your death, then I can tell you that should the situation be the same as it is today, then your wife will receive one-eighth of your property and your son and daughter will share the remainder on the basis that the son takes twice as much as the daughter. This means that after your wife takes her share, the remainder is divided into three shares, one to your daughter and two to your son. Your sister and her relatives do not have any shares.
Now, all this applies after the payment of any outstanding debts you may have incurred and after the execution of any will you might have left. Therefore, if your sister is poor and you wish to do something for her, you should give her something by will. You are entitled to leave as much as one-third of your property to people other than your heirs. Your sister could receive something by will.
It is up to you to decide to whom you wish to make bequests by will. You may decide to give the whole of one-third to your sister, or to divide that between her and her children, or to give her only a portion of that. This is something which you choose.