Money sent to his father did not arrive before his death
Fatwa No: 88237

Question

Please give me your advice. I sent money to my parents for support as my father was sick in the hospital. Before the money arrived to them, my father passed away and he left my mother a small amount of money, not too much but enough to live on. My sisters told me to give all the money I sent as a (sadaqah) for my father. I told them to take only 1/4 of the money and print many Qur'an books and put them in the mosque and give the remaining 3/4 of the money to my mother so she will feel secure, and I will try every few days to give some sadaqah on behalf of my father. Am I right or wrong? My mother now feels insecure and I want to give her the money to help her; she also told me that she wants to change her apartment to feel happy. What do I have to do?

Answer

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.

The amount you sent for the treatment of your father is not considered as a gift since the gift is effective when the one whom it is given takes hold of it. In your case, your father died before taking this money. Thus the money belongs to you and you have a free hand to use it.

No doubt, it is a good act of kindness to your father if you print the Qur'an on his behalf. It is also praiseworthy to give the remaining amount to your mother.

We entrust you to be kind with your parents and keep on doing good for both of them. Do not forget to make Dua for them both. Allah says: "…and say: "My Lord! Bestow on them Your Mercy as they did bring me up when I was small." (Al-Isra 17:24)

Allah knows best.

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