Question
Salaams My questions are about Zakat of my wife's gold: Over the years of our 45 marriage I bought gold for her, now equivalent to about 324 grams. Sadly my wife passed away last week due to an illness. She was the only person that wore the gold. I'm not sure whether I officially gifted it to her or it was just there for her to use as she wanted....or more likely I bought it as an investment. Not sure how I check this after so many years?? Please respond to my questions as if it was her gold, and if I bought it as an investment so my ownership but for her to use as she liked. I need to know how to dispose of the gold according to Shariah so that I don't make any mistakes that might be counted as sinful, or that may affect my wife's akhirat and my akhirat. Q1. I assume ALL of the gold belongs to her, despite me paying for it. It is her total property and I cannot use it for personal gain. Yes? Q2: According to Shariah how do I dispose of the gold? I have 2 grown up children- a daughter eldest (with 4 children, aged 18, 16, 7 and 6) and a son (with 1 boy). If I sell the gold do I share the gold between them and myself as inheritance? If so what is the % I get, my 2 children get ? Q3. Apart from myself and my 2 children- are there any other inheritance candidates? Q4. Am I correct that I as husband do not have to pay zakat on my wife's gold? For over 20 years I have been paying zakat annually on the gold thinking it was my responsibility, since she as a housewife did not work. I have a record of all zakat payments on the gold from 2011. If correct- can I deduct these zakat payments from the total value of the gold before I distribute it? Q5: My wife passed away last week. I incurred about £3-4000 in funeral costs. Can these be deducted from my wife's gold before distribution? She had no other assets apart from the gold. I am a pensioner now relying on my pension income to run my household/living expenses. JazakAllah for your answers. Rauf Mirza Bolton BL3. Bolton. BL3 1NS
Islamic Ruling & Answer
VerifiedWalekumussalam,
(1) If the gold was given to your wife for her personal use and she was wearing and controlling it for many years, then in Islamic law it is considered her property.
In Shariah, a gift becomes complete when the person receives and possesses it.
References :
الهبة تتم بالقبض
“A gift is completed by possession.”
الہدایہ
So if she possessed and used the gold as her own, it is treated as her estate after death.
(2) If the deceased left :
Husband
One son
One daughter
Then Islamic inheritance law says:
Husband receives 1/4 (25%)
The remaining 3/4 goes to the children
The son receives double the share of the daughter
Reference :
فَإِن كَانَ لَهُنَّ وَلَدٌ فَلَكُمُ الرُّبُعُ مِمَّا تَرَكْنَ
“If they have children, then for you (husband) is one fourth.”
القرآن الكريم 4:12
لِلذَّكَرِ مِثْلُ حَظِّ الْأُنثَيَيْنِ
“For the male is the share of two females.”
القرآن الكريم 4:11
This is a direct ruling from the Quran.
(3) Yes, possibly.
If the deceased’s parents are alive, they also inherit.
If parents are not alive, then normally only husband and children inherit (unless other close heirs exist).
The Prophet ﷺ said:
ألحقوا الفرائض بأهلها فما بقي فلأولى رجل ذكر
“Give the fixed shares to those entitled to them, and whatever remains goes to the nearest male relative.”
صحيح البخاري
So inheritance must be checked based on who was alive at the time of death.
(4) Zakat is obligatory on the owner of the wealth.
If the gold belonged to your wife, then zakat was her responsibility.
However, if you paid zakat on her behalf with good intention, it is valid and rewarded.
But past zakat payments cannot be deducted from the estate now, because zakat is an act of worship that has already been completed.
(5) Yes.
In Islamic law, the order is:
Funeral expenses
Debts
Valid will (up to ⅓)
Then inheritance distribution
Reference :
مِن بَعْدِ وَصِيَّةٍ يُوصِي بِهَا أَوْ دَيْنٍ
“After any will or debt.”
القرآن الكريم 4:11
So reasonable funeral costs may be deducted before distribution.
(Inheritance shares are fixed by Allah and must be distributed exactly as prescribed.
(However, after proper distribution, the children may willingly gift part of their share to their father as kindness and support, which is rewardable in Islam.)
وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا
القرآن الكريم 4:36
May Allah forgive your wife and grant you patience and ease. Ameen.
Answered by
Mufti Tosif Qasmi
February 20, 2026
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