Q: I was Christian. My father died on 10/3/1992 A.D. When I was 24 years old. He left behind four sons, three sisters and me. Then the Probate Court gave some property as my share in my father's inheritance and it was as follows:1- Part of a house built of two floors that covers an area of eight 8 rods.2- A sum of money that amounts to LE 1,211, in the form of investment certificates that belonged to my father, and this was my share in them.Afterwards, I gave a sum of money to my mother that was deposited in a bank. It should be noted that this sum could not have been withdrawn from the bank until 1996.Allah bestowed Islam on me on 24/3/1994 A.D., and due to my dire need of money, I retracted money that I had given to my mother concerning the money deposited in the bank. I borrowed a similar amount of money so as to repay it from the deposited money after withdrawing it from the bank.However, after the increase of my knowledge about Islamic rulings, I seek your Fatwa regarding the following:Am I entitled now to what was passed to me from my father's inheritance before converting to Islam? If yes, is it permissible for me to take back the money I had given to my mother regarding the deposited money before converting to Islam and I withdrew it after (Part No. 16; Page No. 554) converting to Islam?We appreciate your guidance. May Allah reward you best!

A: First, praise be to Allah for bestowing Islam upon you, and we ask Him (Glorified and Exalted be He) to provide us and you with strength, and to cause us to die as Muslims. Second, regarding the inheritance that you had from your father when you were both Christians, it is a valid inheritance, and Islam does not prohibit you taking it. Third, concerning the money you had given to your mother, it is better not to take back this gesture; but to keep your word, out of kindness to her. Allah (Exalted be He) says regarding the parents: ...but behave with them in the world kindly, and follow the path of him who turns to Me in repentance and in obedience. When Asma' asked the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him): whether or not she establishes the relation of kinship with her mother although she is disbeliever, he (peace be upon him) said to her: Establish the relation of kinship with your mother. If your mother has already received the money, it is impermissible for you to take it back. (Part No. 16; Page No. 555) May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.