Paying the Diyah by collecting money from the family

Q: My father was responsible for a car accident which claimed his life together with the lives of other people. Reconciliation was reached with the bereaved families to whom a Diyah (blood money) of 654,505 riyals was agreed to be paid. As we could not afford the Diyah, four cousins, through their relatives and contacts, helped in collecting this large sum (Part No. 21; Page No. 243) from their acquaintances. The money was paid in stages and by installments.Before the distribution of the money to its rightful owners, one of my cousins had submitted a request for assistance to the Emir of Riyadh district asking him to help in the payment of the Diyah from Al-Bir Charitable Society. The request was approved and most of the Diyah was paid. A total sum of 240,343 riyals is still with the executor. It is difficult to know the exact amount of money donated by the people as some of them donated one hundred riyals, others donated five hundred riyals, and others donated one thousand riyals. The executor has a daughter and a son who are both ill, and another son who supports a family. Their family is so poor that they receive money from charity. Should the money be paid to them? (Part No. 21; Page No. 244) 1- Are the heirs of the person for whom the money was collected the rightful owners of this money?2- Or should the money be given to the executor who kept it?3- Or does the money have to be paid to the four cousins who helped to collect it?4- Or should the money be considered as Waqf (endowment)?

A: It is obligatory upon the person who has the remaining part of the money to give it back to the donors. Each one is to receive the same amount they donated. This is because the reason for obtaining it as a donation no longer exists. However, it is permissible to donate the remaining sum to the heirs or to the needy after paying the Diyah.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.