Q. I have been working away from home for many years, during which I supported my parents and my brothers and sisters until the latter all got married and settled. During this time I transferred money home and I instructed my brother to buy a plot of land and register it in my name. However, when he bought it he registered it in his name. He is now claiming a share in it, as do my parents. If it was bought with my money, who owns it?
M. Iqbal
A. If your brother accepted the money you sent him and bought the land as you instructed, he should have registered it in your name. Registering it in his own name is wrong because it could create a difficult situation. Suppose your brother has died, how could you prove your right? There could be only one acceptable reason for his action, and that is if official requirements made your presence necessary and that could not be practically done. In such a case, your brother should have immediately recorded the fact in an official document which made clear who owns the land.
However, claiming a share in this land can only be justified if he actually paid part of the price. If he did not, then he has no share in it. If he claims the share on the basis of the time he spent on the purchase, you can compensate him for his time, but he cannot make such a claim. Nor can your parents. You should put it clear to your family that the fact that you were working abroad and earning well does not qualify them to any share of your earnings. You have already contributed to the family welfare, supporting your brothers’ and sisters’ education and your parents’ needs. You are not required to do anything more.
Forbidden Relatioships
Q. What is the Islamic ruling in the case of one being involved with a Hindu partner?
Name and address withheld
A. The reader does not explain the extent of involvement about which he asks. This makes answering the question difficult. The first thing to say, however, is that Islam does not permit marriage between Muslims and Hindus in any way. It is not possible for any Muslim, man or woman, to marry a Hindu. The only type of interfaith marriage that Islam permits is for a Muslim man to marry a Christian or a Jewish woman. The reverse is not permissible.
But the question is not one about marriage. It is about a relationship other than marriage. Such a relationship is forbidden in Islam, regardless of the religious faith of the other party, or lack of it. It is strictly forbidden to have a sexual relation with a person other than one’s legal spouse. It is a case of adultery, no matter what people may wish to call it otherwise. All adultery is forbidden in Islam. The very concept of a “partner” relationship, which means a nonmarriage relationship involving sex, is forbidden in Islam. If one is a party to such a relationship, he must stop it at once and declare his repentance. Repentance means feeling genuinely sorry for having committed a sin, and expressing regret to God for violating His law. This must be accompanied by a firm resolve not to repeat the offense. If one is serious in all this, it is hoped that God will accept his repentance and forgive him.