Chapter on the Inheritance of the Missing Person

Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh|Volume 4|Book 1|Chapter 167

Volume 4, Book 1, Chapter 167

Chapter on the Inheritance of the Missing Person

5 hadiths · 1 commentary

Hadith #1

رَوَى يُونُسُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اَلرَّحْمَنِ عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو اَلْحَسَنِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: "فِي اَلْمَفْقُودِ يُتَرَبَّصُ بِمَالِهِ أَرْبَعُ سِنِينَ ثُمَّ يُقْسَمُ".

Yunus ibn Abd Al-Rahman narrated from Ishaq ibn Ammar who said that Abu Al-Hasan said: "In the case of a missing person (mafqud), his wealth is withheld for four years, and then it is divided."

Shaykh Baqir al-Behbudi
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh

قَالَ مُصَنِّفُ هَذَا الْكِتَابِ رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ يَعْنِي بَعْدَ أَنْ لَا تُعْرَفَ حَيَاتُهُ مِنْ مَوْتِهِ وَ لَا يُعْلَمَ فِي أَيِّ أَرْضٍ هُوَ وَ بَعْدَ أَنْ يُطْلَبَ مِنْ أَرْبَعَةِ جَوَانِبَ أَرْبَعَ سِنِينَ وَ لَا يُعْرَفَ لَهُ خَبَرُ حَيَاةٍ وَ لَا مَوْتٍ فَحِينَئِذٍ تَعْتَدُّ امْرَأَتُهُ عِدَّةَ الْمُتَوَفَّى عَنْهَا زَوْجُهَا وَ يُقْسَمُ مَالُهُ بَيْنَ الْوَرَثَةِ عَلَى سِهَامِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ فَرَائِضِهِ.

The author of this book, may Allah have mercy on him, explained that this applies after it is confirmed that neither his life nor death is known, and there is no knowledge of his whereabouts. After a search has been conducted in all four directions for four years without any information about his life or death, at that point, his wife observes the waiting period (iddah) of a woman whose husband has passed away. Then, his wealth is distributed among his heirs according to the shares and obligations prescribed by Allah , the Mighty and Majestic.

Hadith #2

وَ رَوَى صَفْوَانُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ بْنِ جُنْدَبٍ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ قَالَ سَأَلَ حَفْصٌ اَلْأَعْوَرُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ وَ أَنَا حَاضِرٌ فَقَالَ: كَانَ لِأَبِي أَجِيرٌ وَ كَانَ لَهُ عِنْدَهُ شَيْءٌ فَهَلَكَ اَلْأَجِيرُ فَلَمْ يَدَعْ وَارِثاً وَ لاَ قَرَابَةً وَ قَدْ ضِقْتُ بِذَلِكَ كَيْفَ أَصْنَعُ فَقَالَ "رَابَكَ اَلْمَسَاكِينُ رَابَكَ اَلْمَسَاكِينُ" فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنِّي قَدْ ضِقْتُ بِذَلِكَ كَيْفَ أَصْنَعُ فَقَالَ "هُوَ كَسَبِيلِ مَالِكَ فَإِنْ جَاءَ طَالِبٌ أَعْطَيْتَهُ".

Safwan ibn Yahya narrated from Abdullah ibn Jundub from Hisham ibn Salim who said: Hafs Al-Awar asked Abu Abdullah while I was present, saying: "My father had a hired worker who had something with him. The worker died, leaving behind no heirs or relatives. I am distressed about this matter; what should I do?" Abu Abdullah replied: "The needy are more deserving of it, the needy are more deserving of it." I said: "May I be your ransom! I am still troubled by this matter; what should I do?" Imam said: "Treat it as you would treat your own wealth. If someone comes claiming it, give it to them."

Shaykh Baqir al-Behbudi
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh

Hadith #3

وَ رَوَى اِبْنُ أَبِي نَصْرٍ عَنْ حَمَّادٍ عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ قَالَ: سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ مَاتَ وَ تَرَكَ وُلْداً وَ كَانَ بَعْضُهُمْ غَائِباً لاَ يُدْرَى أَيْنَ هُوَ قَالَ "يُقْسَمُ مِيرَاثُهُ وَ يُعْزَلُ لِلْغَائِبِ نَصِيبُهُ" قُلْتُ فَعَلَيْهِ اَلزَّكَاةُ قَالَ "لاَ حَتَّى يَقْدَمَ فَيَقْبِضَهُ وَ يَحُولَ عَلَيْهِ اَلْحَوْلُ" قُلْتُ فَإِنْ كَانَ لاَ يُدْرَى أَيْنَ هُوَ قَالَ "إِنْ كَانَ اَلْوَرَثَةُ مِلاَءً اِقْتَسَمُوا مِيرَاثَهُ فَإِنْ جَاءَ رَدُّوهُ عَلَيْهِ".

Ibn Abi Nasr narrated from Hammad from Ishaq ibn Ammar who said: I asked Imam about a man who died and left behind children, some of whom were absent and their whereabouts were unknown. Imam said: "Inheritance should be divided, and the share of the absent one will be set aside." I asked: "Is zakat due on it?" Imam said: "No, not until he returns, takes possession of it, and a full year passes over it." I asked: "What if his whereabouts are completely unknown?" Imam said: "If the remaining heirs are financially well-off, they may divide the inheritance. If he returns, they must restore his share to him."

Shaykh Baqir al-Behbudi
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh, p. 372

Hadith #4

وَ رَوَى يُونُسُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اَلرَّحْمَنِ عَنِ اِبْنِ عَوْنٍ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ وَهْبٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: فِي رَجُلٍ كَانَ لَهُ عَلَى رَجُلٍ حَقٌّ فَفَقَدَهُ وَ لاَ يَدْرِي أَيْنَ يَطْلُبُهُ وَ لاَ يَدْرِي أَ حَيٌّ هُوَ أَمْ مَيِّتٌ وَ لاَ يَعْرِفُ لَهُ وَارِثاً وَ لاَ نَسَباً وَ لاَ وَلَداً فَقَالَ "يَطْلُبُ" قَالَ إِنَّ ذَلِكَ قَدْ طَالَ عَلَيْهِ فَيَتَصَدَّقُ بِهِ قَالَ "يَطْلُبُ".

Yunus ibn Abd Al-Rahman narrated from Ibn Awn from Mu'awiyah ibn Wahb from Abu Abdullah regarding a man who had a rightful claim over another person but lost contact with him. He did not know where to search for him, whether he was alive or dead, and was unaware of any heir, lineage, or child related to him. Abu Abdullah said: "He should continue searching for him." The man said: "It has been a long time; can he give it in charity?" Imam replied: "He should continue searching."

Shaykh Baqir al-Behbudi
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh, p. 372

Hadith #5

وَ قَدْ رُوِيَ فِي هَذَا خَبَرٌ آخَرُ: "إِنْ لَمْ تَجِدْ لَهُ وَارِثاً وَ عَرَفَ اَللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مِنْكَ اَلْجَهْدَ فَتَصَدَّقْ بِهَا".

It has also been narrated in another report: "If you do not find an heir for him, and Allah , the Mighty and Majestic, knows that you have made every effort, then give it in charity on his behalf."

Shaykh Baqir al-Behbudi
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh