Page 12 The Islamic Bulletin Issue 18 In the Name of Allah, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful Islamic Last Will and Testament OF RESIDING AT _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ COUNTY ________________________________ DATE OF BIRTH TELEPHONE __TODAY’S DATE __________________________ ARTICLE I: PREAMBLE The Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) ordered Muslims to have their Last Will and Testament drawn up: Abdullah bin ‘Umar narrated that the Messenger of Allah (Pbuh) said, "It is not permissible for any Muslim who has something to Will to stay for two nights without having his Will and Testament written and kept ready with him" (Sahih Al-Bukhari). While being in full mental capacity and good health, I, , a Muslim, do hereby declare, request, and certify this, my Last Will and Testament. I also do hereby declare that this document revokes any and all former Wills and codicils that I have made previously. All praise to Allah (SWT), The Creator of the heavens and the earth and all within. I believe in Him and I put my trust entirely in Him. I beg for His Help and His Forgiveness. I seek refuge in Allah (SWT) from the Shaitan (Satan) and the evils of the world and the evils of my deeds. I ask Him to Guide me; those whom Allah (SWT) Guides no one can mislead, and those whom Allah (SWT) leaves to stray, no one can guide. I testify that I believe that The Hour will come for certain, and that Allah will resurrect all those who are in the graves. I testify that there is no deity except Allah, He is One and has no partners, and I testify that Mohammed is Allah’s servant and last Messenger (Peace and Blessings of Allah be on him). I request of all of my immediate relatives and closest friends, and any others involved in the procedures surrounding my death and burial, whether they be Muslims or non-Muslims, to honor my human and Constitutional right and choice to be a Muslim. I ask them to also honor the spirit as well as letter of this document and to not obstruct or change it in any way. Let them see to it that I am buried as a Muslim, and my property divided and disperse as I ordered, according to the Sunni Muslim Islamic Law (hereafter referred to Shariah). Under no circumstances does anyone have the authority to change the contents of this Will. I request of all of my immediate relatives and closest friends, for the sake of Allah and out of fear of Him, to settle their disputes and correct their relationships among themselves according to the following orders of Allah in The Quran: "So fear Allah and amend that which is between you and obey Allah and His Messenger if you should be believers" (Surah al-A nfal 8: 1). I request of all of my immediate relatives and closest friends what the prophets Ibrahim and Ya’cob (Peace be upon them) directed their sons: "O my sons, indeed Allah has chosen for you this religion, so do not die except while you are Muslims." (Surat-ul-Baqarah, 2:132). I request of all of my immediate relatives and closest friends, when I am on the brink of death, that they insist that I say the Shahadah: "La ilaha ill-Allah, Muhammadun Rasulullah (There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is the Prophet of God) " This is in observance of the Prophet’s (Pbuh) saying: "Anyone whose last words were ‘La ilaha ill-Allah (There is no God but Allah) will enter Paradise". ( Ahmad, Abu Dawud, and al-Hakim - Sahih). I insist that no one wail or slap their cheeks because of my death, as the Prophet (Pbuh) has prohibited these acts. After you have buried me, the first thing you must do is to clear me of my debts (if there are any), as the believer’s soul is held back by his liabilities. Distribution of Inheritance According to the Quran Allah (SWT) says in the Quran in Sura (verse) An-Nisaa: 7-14 7. For men is a share of what parents and close relatives leave, and for women is a share of what the parents and close relatives leave, be it little or much – an obligatory share. 8. And when [other] relatives and orphans and the needy are present at the [time of] division, then provide for them [something] out of it [ i.e., the estate] and speak to themwords of appropriate kindness. 9. And let those [executors and guardians] fear [injustice] as if they [themselves] had left weak offspring behind and feared for them. So let them fear Allah and speak words of appropriate kindness. 10. Indeed, those who devour the property of orphans unjustly are only consuming into their bellies fire. And they will be burned in a Blaze [i.e. Hellfire]. 11. Allah instructs you concerning your children [i.e. their portions of inheritance]: for the male, what is equal to the share of two females. But if there are [only] daughters, two or more, for them is two thirds of one’s estate. (Literally, “that which is left.”). And if there is only one, for her is half. And for one’s parents, to each one of them is a sixth of his estate if he left children. But if he had no children, and the parents [alone] inherit for him, then for his mother is one third. And if he had brothers [and/or sisters], for his mother is a sixth, (Although the siblings themselves do not inherit in this case.) after any bequest he [may have] made or debt. Your parents or your children – you know not which of them, are nearest to you in benefit. [These shares are] an obligation [imposed] by Allah. Indeed, Allah is ever Knowing and Wise. 12. And for you is half of what your wives leave if they have no child. But if they have a child, for you is one fourth of what they leave, after any bequest you [may have] made or debt. And if a man or woman leaves neither ascendants nor descendants but has a brother or a sister, then for each one is a sixth. But if they are more than two, they share a third, (these shares are divided equally between males and females), after any bequest which was made or debt, as long as there is no detriment [caused]. (This is a condition for any bequest. If it has been violated by the deceased, his bequest is not to be honored, or it may be adjusted by the executor). [This is] an ordinance from Allah, and Allah is knowing and Forebearing. 13. These are the limits of Allah, and whosoever obeys Allah and His Messenger will be admitted by Him to gardens [in Paradise] under which rivers flow, abiding eternally therein; and that is the great attainment. 14. And whosoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger, and transgresses His limits - He will put him into the Fire to abide eternally therein, and he will have a humiliating punishment.
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