Fatwa #240422 February 2013India
Why is there need to make a Will if Islam has already ordained the procedure for making Wills
Question
Assalam Alaikum, please answer my question on will. I wanted to know that if Islam has already ordained a procedure for will, then why does a man have to leave his will behind? Thank you.
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
It appears that you are confusing a Will with the laws of inheritance.
It is true that the laws of inheritance where the heirs inherit from the deceased are clearly stated in the Quran and Ahadith.
Allah Subhana wa Ta’ala explains in the Quran who is entitled to the inheritance and in what proportion. Allah says:
For the male the share is twice that of the female. If there are only females together they will get a total of two-thirds of the estate etc.[1]
This entire ruku is dedicated to the division of shares for different heirs.
However, we are living in non-Muslim countries which have their own laws of inheritance. For example if one passes away without making a will that his estate should be divided according to Shariah Laws of inheritance, then the Intestate laws of inheritance of that country will be applied. This is against Shariah. Therefore, it is imperative that one should make a will stating that after his demise his estate is to be divided according to the Shariah law of inheritance.
In a will one may also record the following:
· Debtors
· Creditors
· Trusts
· Fidiya and Kaffara for missed Salat and fasts
· Record any other matter of importance.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Saeed Ahmed Golaub
Jamaica
Student Darul Iftaa
Checked and Approved
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
[1] { يُوصِيكُمُ اللَّهُ فِي أَوْلَادِكُمْ لِلذَّكَرِ مِثْلُ حَظِّ الْأُنْثَيَيْنِ فَإِنْ كُنَّ نِسَاءً فَوْقَ اثْنَتَيْنِ فَلَهُنَّ ثُلُثَا مَا تَرَكَ وَإِنْ كَانَتْ وَاحِدَةً فَلَهَا النِّصْفُ وَلِأَبَوَيْهِ لِكُلِّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمَا السُّدُسُ مِمَّا تَرَكَ إِنْ كَانَ لَهُ وَلَدٌ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ وَلَدٌ وَوَرِثَهُ أَبَوَاهُ فَلِأُمِّهِ الثُّلُثُ فَإِنْ كَانَ لَهُ إِخْوَةٌ فَلِأُمِّهِ السُّدُسُ مِنْ بَعْدِ وَصِيَّةٍ يُوصِي بِهَا أَوْ دَيْنٍ آبَاؤُكُمْ وَأَبْنَاؤُكُمْ لَا تَدْرُونَ أَيُّهُمْ أَقْرَبُ لَكُمْ نَفْعًا فَرِيضَةً مِنَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمً} [النساء: 11]
References
- { يُوصِيكُمُ اللَّهُ فِي أَوْلَادِكُمْ لِلذَّكَرِ مِثْلُ حَظِّ الْأُنْثَيَيْنِ فَإِنْ كُنَّ نِسَاءً فَوْقَ اثْنَتَيْنِ فَلَهُنَّ ثُلُثَا مَا تَرَكَ وَإِنْ كَانَتْ وَاحِدَةً فَلَهَا النِّصْفُ وَلِأَبَوَيْهِ لِكُلِّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمَا السُّدُسُ مِمَّا تَرَكَ إِنْ كَانَ لَهُ وَلَدٌ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ وَلَدٌ وَوَرِثَهُ أَبَوَاهُ فَلِأُمِّهِ الثُّلُثُ فَإِنْ كَانَ لَهُ إِخْوَةٌ فَلِأُمِّهِ السُّدُسُ مِنْ بَعْدِ وَصِيَّةٍ يُوصِي بِهَا أَوْ دَيْنٍ آبَاؤُكُمْ وَأَبْنَاؤُكُمْ لَا تَدْرُونَ أَيُّهُمْ أَقْرَبُ لَكُمْ نَفْعًا فَرِيضَةً مِنَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمً} [النساء: 11]