Mufti Online — Madrasah Ta'leemuddeen

Demise of the debtor before the payment is due

· 25 Jumada II 1441 AH1 min readEnglish

Question

I sold a house for R500 000 on credit and told the customer to pay R50 000 per month over ten months. The customer paid me for the first five months and then passed away. Is it permissible for me to immediately claim the outstanding R250 000 from the heirs or do they still have five months to pay?

Answer

When the debtor passes away, the debt becomes due immediately. Hence the heirs have to pay you immediately.

And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.

References (Arabic / Urdu sources)

ويبطل الأجل بموت المديون لا الدائن (الدر المختار 4/532)

قال العلامة ابن عابدين رحمه الله (قوله ويبطل الأجل بموت المديون) لأن فائدة التأجيل أن يتجر فيؤدي الثمن من نماء المال فإذا مات من له الأجل تعين المتروك لقضاء الدين فلا يفيد التأجيل بحر عن شرح المجمع وصرح قبله بأنه لو مات البائع لا يبطل الأجل (رد المحتار 4/532)

Answered by
Mufti Zakaria Makada
Checked & approved by
Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)
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Questions about this ruling, answered only from the archive with sources.

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Source: Mufti Online — Madrasah Ta'leemuddeen — https://muftionline.co.za/node/31221
Fatawa SA: https://fatawa.co.za/fatwa/muftionline-31221

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