Question

Asalamulaikum mufti Saab,

If parents would like to gift some amount of money to their child without the other children knowing is that permissible.

Also should this be in writing.

Jazakallah

Wasalam

Answer

It is the duty of parents to ensure that they treat their children fairly. If they want to distribute gifts or assets to their children, they should distribute them equally. However, if the parents have a valid reason to support one child more than another, this would be permissible as long as their intention is not to harm the remaining children. For example, if one child is still studying and not able to earn, it would be permissible to support them more than a child who is earning. In such a case it is not necessary to inform the other children that you are giving a gift to one of your children. It is also not necessary to write this down.

If you feel, however, that there could be some dispute at a later stage as a result of this amount, then it would be highly recommended to write down that the amount was given as a gift. In such a case your child will have evidence to show others that the money was a gift and not for other purposes like a loan[1].

[1] البحر الرائق شرح كنز الدقائق ومنحة الخالق وتكملة الطوري (7/ 288(

(قَوْلُهُ فُرُوعٌ) يُكْرَهُ تَفْضِيلُ بَعْضِ الْأَوْلَادِ عَلَى الْبَعْضِ فِي الْهِبَةِ حَالَةَ الصِّحَّةِ إلَّا لِزِيَادَةِ فَضْلٍ لَهُ فِي الدِّينِ وَإِنْ وَهَبَ مَالَهُ كُلَّهُ الْوَاحِدِ جَازَ قَضَاءً وَهُوَ آثِمٌ كَذَا فِي الْمُحِيطِ

الدر المختار وحاشية ابن عابدين (رد المحتار) (5/ 696(

وفي الخانية لا بأس بتفضيل بعض الأولاد في المحبة لأنها عمل القلب، وكذا في العطايا إن لم يقصد به الإضرار، وإن قصده فسوى بينهم يعطي البنت كالابن عند الثاني وعليه الفتوى ولو وهب في صحته كل المال للولد جاز وأثم

(قوله: وإن قصده) بسكون الصاد ورفع الدال، وعبارة المنح: وإن قصد به الإضرار وهكذا رأيته في الخانية (قوله وعليه الفتوى) أي على قول أبي يوسف: من أن التنصيف بين الذكر والأنثى أفضل من التثليث الذي هو قول محمد رملي.

الفتاوى الهندية (4/ 391)

وَلَوْ كَانَ الْوَلَدُ مُشْتَغِلًا بِالْعِلْمِ لَا بِالْكَسْبِ فَلَا بَأْسَ بِأَنْ يُفَضِّلَهُ عَلَى غَيْرِهِ، كَذَا فِي الْمُلْتَقَطِ.

Answered by:
Ifta Research Fellow

Checked & Approved by:
Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
Mufti Zubair Patel