Keeping the personal belongings of a dead relative Fatwa No: 6482
- Fatwa Date:4-12-2007
What is the ruling on keeping the personal effects of a dead relative?
All perfect praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and messenger.
It is permissible to keep and use a dead person's clothes or belongings, unless they are kept for the purpose of seeking blessings by keeping them, because it is not permissible to seek blessings from anyone's effects, no matter how righteous the person may have been except for the Prophet .
It is also permissible to dispose of a dead relative's personal effects, either by selling or renting them, or giving them as a gift or in charity. Being included in the inheritance, these objects can also be divided among the person's heirs, who can give them to anyone they like.
Allaah Knows best.