What is the ruling on a son's admission regarding an inheritance made by his deceased father?

General Chapter

Al-Mughni

Book of Judicial Rulings

Book 64 · Issue 1 · Bab 1

Open in Qurani

Primary text

If a deceased person leaves an estate of one thousand, and his son admits a debt to a man concerning it, and then admits the same amount to another man, the admission stands for the first claimant. Nothing goes to the second claimant, regardless of whether this occurred in one or two sittings. This is because the admission to the first established ownership for him, making the subsequent admission to the second an admission of another's property, and thus it is not accepted. The admitting son is liable to compensate the second claimant because his admission to the second party caused the second party to lose his right, akin to unlawful seizure followed by handing it over to another.