Protect your family, fulfill your Islamic obligations, and ensure your assets are distributed according to Allah's guidance. Complete guide for Muslims in the West.
The Prophet ﷺ said: "It is not permissible for a Muslim who has something to bequeath to sleep two nights without having his last will and testament written."
Writing a will is highly recommended (Mustahabb) in Islam. Without it, the state distributes your estate by default law — not Islamic law.
Ensure your spouse, children and parents receive their rightful shares. Designate guardians for minor children before it's too late.
A properly written will is legally recognized. Without one, your assets go through intestacy laws which may contradict Islamic inheritance rules.
Up to 1/3 of your estate can be given as charity — to a mosque, Islamic school, or causes you care about. Your rewards continue after death.
Follow each step carefully. The entire process takes 30–60 minutes to complete.
Children block siblings from inheritance. If you have children (son or daughter), your siblings receive nothing from the Faraid portion. Always include all living family members accurately.
The Ghusl (ritual washing) must be performed by a Muslim of the same gender. The Kafan should be white cloth. The Janazah prayer is Fard Kifayah — obligatory on the community. Burial in the ground facing Qiblah (Mecca direction) is required.
The Wasi (Executor) in Islamic law must be a Muslim, sane, adult, and trustworthy. They are responsible for paying funeral expenses, clearing debts, distributing bequests, and then distributing the remaining estate to heirs. This is an Amanah (trust) — choose wisely.
| Priority | Payment | Islamic Basis |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Funeral Expenses | Ijma' (scholarly consensus) |
| 2 | All Debts | Quran 4:11-12 "after debts" |
| 3 | Unpaid Zakah | Bukhari, Muslim hadith |
| 4 | Unpaid Hajj | Bukhari — "debts of Allah" |
| 5 | Bequests (max 1/3) | Sahih Bukhari 2744 |
| 6 | Faraid (Inheritance) | Quran 4:11-12, 4:176 |
"Laa wasiyyata li waris" — There is no bequest for an heir. You cannot use bequests to give extra to your children, spouse, or parents. The bequest portion can only go to non-Quranic heirs, charities, or institutions.
These shares are fixed by Allah's command in the Quran (4:11–12). Changing them is not permissible. The calculator applies Sunni Hanafi jurisprudence. Review the distribution to verify your family situation is correctly reflected.
Read through your entire will carefully. Check all names, shares, and instructions for accuracy.
Enter 2 witnesses' full names and addresses. They must be adults who are NOT beneficiaries in your will.
Get your will notarized for extra legal strength. Upload notary document and video if available.
Download your complete will as a PDF. Print and sign in front of witnesses for legal validity.
Your will is auto-saved to your secure account. Update it anytime when your situation changes.
Inform your executor that the will exists and where to find the physical signed copy.
Yes. A properly written, witnessed, and signed will is legally valid in most Western countries. It must be signed by you (the testator) and witnessed by two adult witnesses who are NOT beneficiaries. Notarization adds extra protection. Note that courts may not enforce portions that conflict with local law. Consult a local lawyer to ensure full compliance.
No — the Faraid shares are fixed by Allah in the Quran (4:11-12) and cannot be altered. However, you may give gifts during your lifetime (Hibah) to whomever you wish. After death, only the 1/3 bequest portion can go to non-heirs, and even that cannot go to existing Quranic heirs unless all other heirs give their consent.
Without a will, the state distributes your estate according to local intestacy laws — which are very different from Islamic law. You may also lose the ability to specify funeral wishes, appoint guardians for your children, or leave charity bequests.
Not necessarily. A will written clearly, signed by you, and witnessed by two adults is legally valid in most jurisdictions. However, for complex estates (businesses, multiple properties, international assets), we strongly recommend consulting an estate planning attorney.
Review and update your will after any major life event: marriage, divorce, birth of a child, death of a beneficiary or executor, or significant change in assets/debts. As a general rule, review it at least every 2 years even if nothing major has changed.
According to the majority Sunni scholarly opinion, a non-Muslim does not inherit from a Muslim's estate through Faraid. However, you can include non-Muslim family members or friends in your 1/3 bequest portion as a gift, which is permissible.
If you had wealth above the Nisab threshold (~87.48g of gold or ~612.36g of silver) for a full lunar year but did not pay Zakah on it, that unpaid amount is a debt owed to Allah. It must be paid from your estate before inheritance distribution.
