Guide To Writing an Islamic Will

Introductory note

It is highly recommended as perceived from the sayings of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) to write a Will.

To avoid the common pitfalls and prevalent problems when persons die instate, we have taken this initiative to prepare this booklet. It contains guidelines on making an Islamic Will as well as a sample Will. If you fill this tailor made Will it would become a legal and binding document.

The Africa Federation embarked on this task of preparing the guidelines and a sample will from which the members of the community can benefit. The following booklet was compiled from various sources and edited to meet the present needs. It is by no means a complete document and only serves as a guideline to make a Will that is both Islamically and legally acceptable. In short it explains certain aspects to be considered when making a Will and elaborates the parts of an Islamic Will and how to make one.

We would like to acknowledge the following sources where we extracted information from: GCG booklet on how to make a Will, Sayyid Muhammad Rizvi’s Making an Islamic Will (1994) and the World Federation Sample Will.

We would like to add that there may be assets you own or debts you owe, which nobody knows about. If you have them listed in this secret document to be opened after your demise, at least the assets will not go to waste and your debts will be cleared.

Many orphans and widows have had to endure hardships and resort to legal wrangles lasting a long time until the estate of their deceased is sorted. If the Will clearly stipulates all your wishes then there would no room for any infighting.

You have the choice of using one third of your estate as per your wishes and do not miss on this chance to earn salvation for the hereafter by using this option to do the best charity. Their might be some activities you have wished to undertake all along, this is the chance to get them fulfilled by allocating valuable resources for it to become a reality.

We strongly believe you have benefited and been a proud member of our community. Now it is the turn of the community to gain from you out of the one third. Perhaps you could name your local Jamaat or Regional Federation or a charity of the community as a beneficiary; and leave behind a legacy from which many will benefit perpetually and you shall be remembered with fond memories and be an example to emulate for others.

We humbly suggest that you give this document the seriousness it deserves and do not put your Will on hold any further. Please read it carefully and fill it today. No one knows when death comes.

With Salaams and Duas,

Zulfikar H Khimji

April 2003