Question Summary:
Am I illegitimate?

Question Detail:

My first question to you is that I was born on the 2nd of June 1970.  However, my parents were married in December 1969.  Does this make me illegitimate?
My second question is that my father passed away five years ago and he left three businesses.  I did not receive one cent till today.  My mother tells me that my father put all the businesses on her name in his will.  And if I want to use anything from the business, I should first consult with all my siblings.  But they can use whatever they want from the business without asking me.  What is sharia’s view on this matter?

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
 
In principle, if a child is born less than six months after the marriage of his/her parents, the child is classified as illegitimate in terms of Shariah.  However, if a child is born six months or more after the marriage, then the child is legitimate and will be attributed to his/her father. [1]  The calculation will be according to the lunar calendar.  [2]
 
Only a child who is legitimate in terms of Shariah will inherit from his/her father. [3]  The estate of a person will be divided amongst all his heirs according to the Shariah Laws of Inheritance and Succession.  Every heir is entitled to his/her share immediately after the demise of the relative.  If your father left his business to your mother in his will, this is a bequest.  A bequest cannot be made to an heir. [4]  Since your mother is an heir, she is only entitled to 1/8 of the net wealth left behind by your father. [5] The remaining wealth will be distributed to the rest of the heirs according to the Shariah Laws of Inheritance and Succession.
 
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Mufti Abdul Azeem bin Abdur Rahman,

US
 
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
www.daruliftaa.net