Question
A husband gifts all the kitchen items and utensils to his wife.. By her accepting the gift will it be hers or will she have to take physical possession of each item. And remove them them from the cupboards
Answer
In the enquired case, if he wishes to give the items and utensils as a gift to his wife, she will have to take physical possession of each item, then only will the gifted utensils become hers. If on the other hand, he sells the items and utensils to her for a specified amount (it can even be a nominal and paltry amount) and she purchases them, she becomes the owner of the items simply by accepting and concluding the sale. In the scenario of a sale, it will not be necessary for her to take physical possession of each and every separate item in order for her to become the owner thereof. He merely has to point towards the items and say that “all the items in these cupboards, I am selling to you for an X amount of money.” She will then say that “I have bought all these items for the stipulated price.” After the sale is concluded, he can waive and forego the purchase price, as his object is not to make money out of the deal, but to do a kind gesture towards her.
Checked and Approved By:
Mufti Muhammed Saeed Motara Saheb D.B.
References
الهبة عقد مشروع لقوله عليه الصلاة والسلام: “تهادوا تحابوا” وعلى ذلك انعقد الإجماع “وتصح بالإيجاب والقبول والقبض” أما الإيجاب والقبول فلأنه عقد، والعقد ينعقد بالإيجاب، والقبول، والقبض لا بد منه لثبوت الملك.(الهداية/ج3/ص222)
ثُمَّ الْمِلْكُ لَا يَثْبُتُ فِي الْهِبَةِ بِالْعَقْدِ قَبْلَ الْقَبْضِ- عِنْدَنَا…رُوِيَ عَنْ النَّبِيِّ -صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ -:«لَا تَجُوزُ الْهِبَةُ إلَّا مَقْبُوضَةً» مَعْنَاهُ: لَا يَثْبُتُ الْحُكْمُ، وَهُوَ الْمِلْكُ(المبسوط السرخسى/ج12/ص48)