Making a Sharia-Compliant Islamic Will

The Sharia-Compliant Islamic Will covers the same important aspects a secular Will covers, such as the appointment of executors, guardians and gifts to charity.

However, the Sharia-Compliant Will ensures that your estate is distributed in accordance with the Islamic succession laws.

For your Will to be Sharia-Compliant:

• Your executor must be a Muslim.
• A minimum of 2/3 of your estate must be left to living family members in accordance with Islamic succession laws; the exact distribution cannot be determined in advance as it will depend on which family members have survived you at the date of your death.  
• One-third can be left to anyone who is not entitled to a fixed share, such as a charity, friend or more distant relative.

You can specify that your burial should be in accordance with Islam and include a declaration of your faith that can state your beliefs.

If you do not make a Will, then the intestacy rules will apply to your estate. This means that your estate will not pass to those entitled under Sharia Law and will not be in accordance with your wishes.

By making a Sharia-Compliant Islamic Will, Muslims can have peace of mind that their estate is being distributed in accordance with their beliefs.

It also allows you to leave gifts to charity and payments for compensation for missed acts of worship and any unpaid Zakat (compulsory charity).