behind judges’ discretion in granting non-Muslims
wasiyya al wajiba in the interfaith inheritance
cases.(Rinaldi, 2017)
Questions. The question after that are: why
is wasiya al wajiba chosen to deal with the interfaith
inheritance cases? What are judges’ consideration
and discretion in granting wasiya al wajiba?
4 DISCUSSION
Wasiyya al wajiba, or obligatory bequest, is
a bequest given to the heirs or relatives who are not
legally entitled to distributable estates according to
Islamic inheritance law. For example, a mother or
father gives a bequest to the children who are not
Muslims. This is done because their religion
becomes the barrier for them to receive inheritance
from their Muslim parent. Another example is a
grandchild who is, according to Islamic inheritance
law, not entitled to his/her grandparent’s estate
because of the existence of the uncle. If the
grandchild is considered important for the deceased,
he/she can obtain the estate through wasiyya al
wajiba. The practice of wasiyya al wajiba does not
depend on the will of the deceased. This means that
without any prooves that the deceased grant the
wasiyya to his/her relatives, the wasiyya can still be
distributable.(Usman, 1997)
In discussing Islamic inheritance, the status
of the property of the deceased should be clear.
There are two types of estates: total estate or harta
peninggalan; and distributable estate. This
distributable estate is called harta waris
(inheritance), which is the remain of the total estate
after being reduced by the deceased unpaid debts
and wasiyya. Therefore, Wasiyya al wajiba is taken
from the total estate left by the deceased. Another
matter is about the status of the successors. In
Islamic inheritance law, not all successors gain the
status of heirs (ahl waris) or those who are entitled
to the distributable estate. Being a non-Muslim is
one of the cause that forbid someone to become an
heir (ahl waris) of a Muslim. Therefore, they cannot
obtain the estate as an heir.
The notion of wasiyya is also in accordance
with the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad saying
that wasiyya is not for ahl waris. This means that the
wasiyya for those who are outside the heirs of the
deceased. The provision about wasiyya involving
non-Muslims is discussed by Abdurrahman Al-Jaziri
from the Hanafi madzhab (Islamic school of
thoughts). Al-Jaziri maintains that those who can
receive wasiyya are Muslims and non-Muslims,
which in this contexts are dimmi, or Non-Muslims
who live peacefully side by side with Muslims.
However, Al-Jaziri also mentioned that the wasiyya
should not be entitled to apostles, or those who
convert from Islam to other religions.(Jazīrī, 1982)
As for wasiyya al wajiba, this notion
involves authority in its implementation. This is
because, the wasiyya al wajiba is granted to the
successor without the knowledge of the deceased, or
without a written evidence from the deceased.
Because the implementation of wasiyya al wajiba
involving law and authority, this matter is
considered qadaiyya (legal-related matter). There
are different opinions about the practice of
wasiyya
al wajiba among the ulama. Jumhur argued that the
implementation of wasiyya al wajiba is optional. On
the other hand, Ibn Hazm, Abu Ja’far Muhammad
bin Jarir al-Tabari, Abu Bakr ibn Abd al Aziz argued
that wasiyya al wajiba is compulsory for the heirs
that are forbidden to obtain inheritance. They based
their argument with sura Al-Baqara verse 180,
“Prescribed for you when death approaches [any]
one of you if he leaves wealth [is that he should
make] a bequest for the parents and near relatives
according to what is acceptable - a duty upon the
righteous.”(Alam & Fauzan, 2008)
In Muslim countries, such as Egypt,
Morocco, Syria, and Tunis, the notion of wasiyya al
wajiba is in their state law.(Somawinata, 2008) In
Indonesia, the term wasiyya al wajiba can be found
in the article of 209 of the Compilation of Islamic
Law. The article states (1) The estate of adopted
children is distributable based on the Article 176 to
Article 193, as for the adopted parents who are not
entitled to the wasiyya, are given wasiyya al wajiba
amounting no more that 1/3 of the estate. (2) For the
adopted children who do not obtain wasiyya from
his adopted parents, they are given wasiyya al
wajiba at the maximum of 1/3 of the adopted
parents’ estate. The entitlement of wasiyya al wajiba
to the adopted children in the Compilation of Islamic
Law is the limited adaptation of customary law to
Islamic law. This notion is chosen considering that
there has been a legal transfer of responsibility from
the biological parents to the adoption parents, as is
mentioned in Article 171 on the General Provisions
of Inheritance.(Alam & Fauzan, 2008), (Ali, 1997)
From methodological aspects, the practice of
wasiyya al wajiba in the compilation of Islamic law
is a disputable matter (ijtihadi). Judges apply
wasiyya al wajiba based on the principle of maslaha
al mursala to promote justice and public interests
among Indonesia Muslim society.(Somawinata,
2008)