An uncle raised his nephew: does the nephew have a share in property the uncle bought?

Question

Question: Zayd raised his nephew (whose father died leaving him at the age of two or two and a half). On growing up he began to do a little work, and he was still living with his uncle when his uncle Zayd bought a house. Can the nephew raised by Zayd also be a co-owner in the house Zayd bought, or not?

Answer

If Zayd’s nephew does some independent, separate work, then his earnings are his own, not Zayd’s. But if he does not work separately and instead works together with Zayd and in partnership with him, then his earnings are not his property but Zayd’s property, and it will be said that the real one conducting the business is Zayd himself and the nephew is his helper.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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