Wasiyya

Wasiyya, also transliterated wasiyah, from Arabic وصية, means bequest or will. In Islamic law, a waṣiyya is a testament by a Muslim that designates how part of the decedent's estate is to be distributed after death. A waṣiyya may designate gifts to individuals, charitable organizations, or other beneficiaries, but it must conform to Islamic principles.

The central rule in most schools is that a person may bequeath up to one-third of his or her estate to non-heirs; the remainder of the estate is distributed among heirs according to fixed shares prescribed by sharia. Bequests above one-third require the consent of all heirs or may be invalid in full or in part depending on the jurisdiction and school of law. The will becomes effective only upon death, and must be made voluntarily and while of sound mind.

In practice, waṣiyya is used to support relatives not covered by inheritance shares, to provide for charitable causes, or to designate specific bequests. There are variations among Sunni and Shia schools regarding due process, beneficiaries, and the treatment of heirs, but the general concept remains.

In modern legal systems in many Muslim-majority countries, waṣiya is recognized and regulated by civil or family law, often requiring formal written wills, witnesses, and, in some jurisdictions, registration. Some testaments also distinguish between ordinary waṣiya and waṣiya khayriyya (charitable bequests).

See also: Inheritance, Waqf, Will, Testament.