Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalamualikum:

URGENT QUESTION

My father passed away after some severe illness. He was treated in the hospital that incurred some cost. However, the hospital and physicians policy is that if the patient dies, they eliminate the bills associated. I wanted to know, would it be right to have the bills nulled because my father is no more. Or, being a son, is my responsibility to pay of the bills, despite the possibility of having them nulled by the physicians and hospital.

I will appreciate a quick response.

JazakAllah Khair

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Answer:

Father died hospital bills

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

If the hospital has a policy and is willing to nullify the accrued bills of your deceased father, there is absolutely no harm or restriction in Islam in accepting their gesture.

But if the hospital does not nullify the bills, then the accrued hospital bills will be considered like an outstanding debt of your deceased father, and it must be paid out of his wealth before the inheritance is distributed amongst his heirs. If the father has not left enough wealth to cover the amounts due, it would be the responsibility of his children or heirs to pay that debt in full.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan