Category: Last Will and Testament

My only surviving Islamic heir is my spouse;...

Yes. A surviving spouse would take her prescribed share from the estate. A wife’s Islamic inheritance share would be 1/4 (or 1/8 if the husband had children) of her husband's net estate. A husband’s Islamic inheritance share would be...
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Why does a son receive double the share...

In pre-Islamic Arabia, only males inherited. This was changed by the divine message carried by the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). When the companion Aws Ibn Thabit passed away, he was survived by a wife, three daughters, and two nephews. Consistent...
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I have a child born outside of marriage....

First, it is important to note that unlike American state law, a valid marriage under Sharī‘a has minimal requirements: oral marriages and polygamy are valid. Islamic public policy favors legitimacy rather than illegitimacy. With that in mind, according to...
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My wife and I own a home together....

Strictly speaking, yes. Some would consider this a transfer during lifetime, so it would not violate Sharī‘a. Others would argue that because the transfer is effective upon death, it would be an invalid lifetime transfer according to the Sharī‘a. However,...
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I hear my dad say that he follows...

Maḏāhib (maḏhab singular) are Sharīʿa doctrinal schools. In the 7th century, Muslim juristic knowledge started as study circles (halaqas) in which a pious Muslim scholar - surrounded by people - would debate religious issues and teach interested students. Without an ecclesiastical hierarchy, there was no institutional...
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Can my spouse and I make a joint...

A joint will, also called a “mirror will,” “mutual will,” or “reciprocal will,” is a will that may be executed by a married couple to ensure that their property is disposed of identically at time of death.  In a standard...
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