Drawing up non-Shariah Wills
A Muslim solicitor may not draw up a non-Shariah-compliant will for Muslim clients, as this is considered aiding in sin and contravenes the Quranic prohibition against assistance in sin and transgression.
It is not permissible for a solicitor (legal expert) to prepare a non-Shariah-compliant will for a Muslim client, as this would amount to aiding in sin.
The text is a fatwa from the Jamiatul Ulama KZN that answers a specific question posed by a Muslim solicitor. The question is whether it is permissible for a Muslim lawyer to draw up a will that is not structured in accordance with the Shariah for Muslim clients. The answer denies this on the grounds that it would amount to aiding in sin. As a basis, a hadith of the Prophet is cited, which designates the permissible and the prohibited as clear and warns against doubtful matters in between. In addition, a passage from the Quran (Surah Ma'idah) is referenced, which calls for assistance in sin and transgression. The text recommends turning to the Jamiatul Ulama KZN, which offers free consultation on Islamic wills. It is emphasised that Muslims should engage with estate planning at an early stage. The fatwa is based specifically on Hanafi fiqh.
Worldview
what this means- What, according to this text, is the root of the evil?
- Sin, personal failure, guilt before God; Ignorance, illusion, a false view of reality
- Where does the evil reside?
- in the heart, the will, or the soul of the individual
- What helps against it?
- keeping the commandments, maintaining order, fulfiling one's duties; insight, learning, enlightenment, right understanding
- What is human being according to this text?
- willed by God, with a task and a responsibility
- Where is history heading?
- the message stands outside of history
- What does the text base its claim on?
- on the founder or prophet of the tradition; on the holy scripture of its own tradition
- To whom does the text's call for devotion apply?
- to one's own fellow believers
- Where is the text's criticism directed?
- at one's own community and at oneself
Related texts from other traditions
by similarity of the analysis, one text per traditionImam Ali's (a.) Justice - Ramadan Special 4 [2026] | IMM
Eine Ramadan-Predigt, die Imam Ali als Symbol der Gerechtigkeit darstellt und dazu aufruft, auch gegen sich selbst gerecht zu handeln.
Die Frauen der Ahmadiyya Muslim Gemeinde – Erleuchtung für die Welt
Ansprache an Ahmadi-Frauen, die islamische Frauenrechte als überlegen gegenüber westlichen Bewegungen darstellt und zu Geduld, Gehorsam und Opferbereitschaft aufruft.
Simanim: Die Feiertage sind voller symbolischer Speisen und Rituale
Der Text erklärt, dass jüdische Neujahrsbräuche keine verbotene Magie sind, sondern symbolische Impulse für Gebet, Reue und positive Handlungen darstellen.
Als islamische Religionslehrerin abgelehnt − wegen fehlendem Kopftuch?
Ein Fall in Österreich zeigt, wie religiöse Gemeinschaften im Religionsunterricht diskriminieren können, und plädiert für staatliche Neutralität.
Riḍván 2026 – To the Bahá’ís of the World
Der Text ermutigt die Bahá'í-Gemeinschaft, in der neuen Planphase als Quelle der Hoffnung zu dienen und durch konstruktives Handeln und Gemeinschaftsaufbau auf die Welt einzuwirken.
What the text calls for
- sich an die Jamiatul Ulama KZN wenden (social)
- ein Shariah-konformes Testament aufsetzen (social)
- sich frühzeitig mit Nachlassplanung befassen (inward)
Passages cited
Sunan Tirmidhi · Koran 5:2
Measured
- Basic stance
- -1 from -2 to 2
- Insistence
- 2 of 3
- Reach
- 3 of 5
- Concreteness
- 3 of 3
- Boundary
- 1 of 3
- Time
- past 2, present 2, future 1