WHY MAKE AN ISLAMIC WILL?

Fulfil a religious obligation

It is sunnah to make a will:

Ensure your wealth is distributed Islamically

It's easy to put off making a will.  But if you die without making one you are deemed to have died ‘intestate’.  This means that your assets will be distributed according to the law of the land rather than your wishes.  More importantly, these rules are not the same as the Islamic laws of inheritance and will mean that your wealth will not be distributed according to Shariah (Islamic Law).

Protect your spouse

English and Welsh laws do not recognise Islamic marriages or divorces.  So if you have not registered your marriage and die intestate (without a Will) your spouse could end up with nothing.

Protect your children

In your Will you can appoint suitable guardians with good Islamic teachings for your children in the event that both parents die before the children reach 18 years of age.  You can outline your wishes on how your children should be raised.  Otherwise the courts will have a say in their future.

Help the less fortunate

In your Will you can leave a gift to help the less fortunate or a charitable cause.  This helps both the beneficiary and you as Sadaqah Jariyah (ongoing charity) is only one of three actions which continues to be rewarded even after death!

It makes financial sense

As well as complying with a Sunnah by making a Will, you can also help your family after you have passed in the following ways:

• It can avoid unnecessary family disputes

• A tax efficient Will can save huge amounts of Inheritance Tax your family may need to pay

• If you die intestate your family would need to apply to the courts to administer your estate which is a lengthy and costly process.  Making a Will is far cheaper and can avoid a financial headache for your family in the long run.

Leave funeral and burial instructions

You can leave funeral and burial instructions in your Will to ensure these are carried out in accordance with authentic Islamic practices.

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