Shari’ah law and Muslim wills

If you live in England and wish to comply with Shari’ah law, then you will need to write a will. Muslim laws are based on the Qur’an: the teachings of Mohammed, the last prophet and the interpretations of the jurists. Unfortunately the many different interpretations have led to some aspects of Shari’ah law to be rather complex. Many accomplished academics disagree on the interpretation of many laws and particularly on the application of laws to the modern day problems of a Muslim person.

Wills made in England are subject to the laws of England and Wales. The Wills Act 1837 has a number of requirements that must be met in order for a will to be valid. A valid will must be signed by the testator and witnessed by two other persons, amongst other requirements, to be valid under English law. If the requirements for valid wills are not met, then estates pass under the intestacy rules rather than any terms of wills. Muslim laws are not the same as English laws in respect of wills and if you want to write valid Muslim wills in England you must instruct a solicitor who is proficient in both areas of law. In addition to this, there are other areas of English law that are not immediately compliant with Islamic law, and in order to make actions compliant with both jurisdictions, you are likely to need assistance from a specialist Islamic law solicitor.

If you would like to obtain legal advice on Muslim wills, Islamic law or any related issue, Contact Law can put you in touch with a local specialist Islamic law solicitor free of charge. So, if you have any questions or would like our help in finding Islamic law solicitors please call us on 0808 129 5760 or complete the web-form above.