What is the difference between a secular will and an Islamic will?

An Islamic will covers everything that a secular will covers, including:

  • Appointing an executor to distribute your estate and manage your affairs after death;
  • Appointing a guardian to care for your children and manage their inheritance until adulthood;
  • Leaving money and/or property from your estate to other relatives or to charitable organizations; and
  • Specifying any debts to be paid at your death.

However, unlike a secular will, an Islamic will also includes Sharī‘a-complaint solutions to manage your estate after death, including:

  • Telling the world you have selected your burial rites according to Islam;
  • Outlining your autopsy wishes that are permissible under the Sharī‘a;
  • Specifying moral and religious obligations to be paid at your death;
  • Providing permissible, recommended, and obligatory bequests up to one-third of the estate in the aggregate; and, most importantly;
  • Dividing your assets according to Sharī‘a inheritance rules.

If you want your estate to be divided according to Sharī‘a inheritance rules, use our ISLAMIC WILL software to prepare your own customized Islamic estate plan that is legally valid for your state.

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