Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1
Professor, Department of Law and Social Jurisprudence, Research Institute of Hawzah and University, Qom.Iran.
2
PhD in of Qom Seminary and Teacher of the higher Levels of Seminary, Qom.Iran.
Abstract
Problem statement
In the current laws of Iran, regarding the personal status of Iranians and including their inheritance, several "conflict resolution" rules just determine the governing law in international relations (Article 6 of the Civil Code) or inter-religious relations (Principle 13 of the Constitution and the single articles approved in 1933 and 1993) without determining the substantive ruling. Furthermore, there is a "material-inter-religious" rule, which is derived from Islamic jurisprudence (Article 881 bis of the Supplementary Civil Code of 1991). It just states the two substantive rulings of the issue of inheritance between Muslims and non-Muslims, and at the top of it, it considers a non-believer to be deprived of the inheritance of a Muslim bequeather, and at the bottom of that, it declares him ineligible for the inheritance of a non-Muslim bequeather, if there is a Muslim heir (the rule of Hajb).
Methodology
Using the method of library study and descriptive-analytical method, this article criticizes and examines the point of view that declares the mentioned article inapplicable to religious minorities and shows the sterility of the relevant evidence.
Theoretical framework
According to the jurisprudence base of this article, a detailed study of the subject is necessary in the theoretical and conceptual framework of the country's official religion, i.e. Imamiah jurisprudence, which is the basis of legislation in the Islamic Republic of Iran. In Imamiah jurisprudence, regarding the relationship of inheritance in inter-religious relations, there are different assumptions and rulings: if the bequeather is a Muslim, religious unity is a condition for the establishment of the relationship of inheritance, and religious difference is an obstacle to the relationship of inheritance; therefore, only Muslim heirs can inherit. But if the bequeather is a non-Muslim and some of the heirs are Muslim and some are non-Muslim, according to the famous Shiite jurists, as an exceptional rule, the non-Muslim heirs are deprived of inheritance, that is, the presence of a Muslim heir causes non-Muslim heirs to be disinherited (the rule of Hajb). Of course, the non-popular view considers the Muslim heir to be entitled to the inheritance, without considering him an obstacle to inheriting a non-Muslim heir.
Question
Although the top and bottom of Article 881 bis of the Civil Code is general and includes all non-Muslims, both official and non-official minorities, some believe that this Article does not include the official minorities. This claim has caused the question of whether the Hajb mentioned under Article 881 bis of the Civil Code is specific to unbelievers of the book or includes the unbelievers of the book, who are referred to as religious minorities in Principle 13 of the Constitution.
Hypothesis
Trying to get the correct answer does not require having any hypothesis; therefore, the authors of the article in search of the truth, without any prejudice or even previous hypothesis, have studied and criticized jurisprudence texts and sayings, and is committed to accept the obtained results.
Achievement
Considering the inadequacy and failure of the arguments of the proponents of the exclusion of religious minorities from the inclusion under Article 881 bis of the Civil Code, and considering the generality of this Article, as well as considering the well-known Fatwa of the Imamiah jurists, the authors have concluded that religious minorities, like other non-Muslims, are subject to Article 881 bis of the Civil Code and the rule of Hajb. At the same time, to resolve any ambiguity and doubts, they have submitted the following amendment proposal:
"A non-Muslim, including religious minorities and others, does not inherit from a Muslim, and if there is a Muslim among the deceased non-Muslim's heirs, the non-Muslim heirs do not inherit, even if they are ahead of the Muslim heir in terms of class and rank".
Keywords
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