Get the free Islamic Will Workbook to accelerate your estate plan.
This page is part of the Islamic Will Step-by-Step Guide. Click here to see the full guide.
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The Islamic Will Workbook is one of the resources in the MuslimMoney Will Kit. You can get access to the will kit for free by entering your first name and email address:
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How to Complete the Workbook
1. Instruction Page (Date)
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- Enter Today’s Date
- This shows when you last updated the workbook, helping your executor see how current the information is.
- Follow the Tabs
- Follow each tab’s instructions to gather and organize your estate information.
2. People
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- List key individuals
- Executor: The individual who carries out the instructions in your will after you pass away. The executor will be legally authorized to distribute your assets and pay your debts, etc.
- Backup Executor: A substitute who handles the executor’s responsibilities if the primary executor is unable or unwilling to act. It’s wise to choose someone with qualities similar to that of the primary executor.
- Guardian: The guardian looks after your kids and their estate if you’re not around. The guardian should be Muslim and someone you trust to raise your kids with the right values. Usually, the surviving parent would take care of them if they’re alive and capable, so the guardian you mention here should be a backup in case both parents are unable to care for the children.
- Backup Guardian: A backup guardian steps in if the primary guardian can’t. They should share the same qualities and be ready to care for your children and their estate.
- Include full names and addresses so they can be easily contacted.
- Update ‘Status’ to mark whether each person has been informed of their role.
3. Determine
- Asset Type
- List each significant asset (house, car, bank account, digital asset, etc.).
- Use the dropdown to categorize (e.g., Real Estate, Bank Account).
- First Opinion: Some scholars, including AMJA, argue that life insurance payouts should be included in the estate and distributed among heirs according to Islamic inheritance laws.
- If you follow this view, list your life insurance policy under assets, specifying the policy details and the expected payout amount.
- Second Opinion: Other scholars, including Dr. Monzer Kahf, opine that life insurance proceeds, when a specific beneficiary is named, do not form part of the estate but belong directly to the beneficiary.
- If you adhere to this perspective, include the life insurance policy in your assets list, but enter "$0" for its value. In the notes section, mention the designated beneficiary and the anticipated payout amount.
- Flowing or Frozen?
- 💧 Flowing: Joint accounts, jointly owned property, or assets with a designated beneficiary (like RRSPs, TFSAs, life insurance). These assets go straight to the the co-owner/beneficiary and not require an executor/grant of probate.
- 🧊 Frozen: Assets held in your name alone—such as sole bank accounts, personal real estate, or personal investment accounts. These assets will be locked until your executor is issued a Grant of Probate.
- Approximate Value ($)
- Enter a rough estimate - no need for exact market appraisals.
- This helps give an overall picture of how much your estate is worth.
- Ownership Share (%)
- Indicate what percentage of the asset is yours.
- In Islamic law, spouses maintain independent financial identities. To ensure clarity in shared property ownership, consider the following:
- Clearly Define Ownership Shares: Specify each spouse's percentage ownership of shared assets, even if official titles haven't been updated.
- Utilize Lifetime Gifts: Distribute assets during your lifetime to balance disparities in inheritance shares, ensuring equitable distribution.
- Actual Owned Value (Auto-Calculated)
- This shows how much of the asset is actually yours.
- Notes (Access Details, Special Beneficiary)
- Provide information your executor would need to manage or access this asset. This makes it easier for them to locate and distribute assets after you pass away.
- If you want a particular asset to go to a specific heir, note it here.
- Gross Estate (Auto-Calculated)
- Your Gross Estate is referred to your “tarikah” in Islamic law.
- This is the sum of the Actual Owned Value column.
A note on life insurance: if you have a life insurance policy (through work or one that you’ve acquired and deem permissible) then you should note two scholarly opinions about including it in your estate:
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4. Deduct
- Debt / Obligation Type & Description
- List any outstanding debts or obligations, such as mortgage, personal loans, credit card balances, unpaid mahr, etc.
- Use the dropdown or description field to categorize (e.g., Mortgage, Loan, Unpaid Mahr).
- Approximate Amount ($)
- Enter how much is owed or estimated to be owed.
- This helps give a clear picture of what must be paid before distributing assets.
- Notes (Due Dates, Contacts, Other Details)
- Provide any critical information or instructions (e.g., due dates, relevant contact persons).
- This ensures your executor knows how and when to settle each debt or obligation.
- Net Estate (Auto-Calculated)
- The total of all deductions will be subtracted from your Gross Estate to give you a “Net Estate.”
- In Islamic law, the net estate is called your “tarikah sāfiyah”
5. Gift
- Recipient Type
- Individual: Someone who is not one of your Qur’anic heirs, which can include non-Muslim relatives.
- Institution: A mosque, charity, non-profit, etc.
- Unfulfilled Hajj / Unpaid Fidya: Some scholars consider these as debts (i.e. something you should list on the Deductions page), but others argue that they should be calculated as bequests.
- Unfulfilled Hajj: If you were physically and financially able to perform hajj during your lifetime, but did not, you may want to include the cost of someone doing hajj on your behalf (known as ‘hajj badal’) after you pass.
- Upaid Fidya: Fidya is a charitable compensation required when someone permanently cannot fast or make up missed fasts in Ramadan. The money is typically used to feed the poor or those in need.
- Example Calculation: If your local fidya rate is $10 per missed day of fasting, and you have 30 missed days you cannot make up, then your total fidya is $300.
- Name / Description
- Clearly identify the beneficiary or cause (e.g., “Local Masjid Society” or “Uncle Jonah”).
- Percent of Net Estate
- Enter the percentage of your Net Estate you want to give as a bequest.
- The Amount column will automatically calculate the dollar value.
- Amount (Auto-Calculated)
- This is based on the percentage you set.
- If you want a different dollar value, adjust the percentage.
- Total (Auto-Calculated)
- Important Limit
- The total percentage bequeathed across all recipients must not exceed 1/3 (33.33%) of your Net Estate.
- This is what’s left after your bequests.
- The Residual Estate goes to your heirs under Islamic inheritance rules. Your residual estate is called your “mirath” in Islamic law.
5. Distribute
- Identify Qur’anic Heirs
- Name & Relationship
- Write each heir’s full name and their relationship to you in brackets (e.g., “Tariq Hassan (Father)”).
- Fraction or Percentage
- Copy the fraction or percentage for each heir’s share from the calculator.
- Amount (Auto‐Calculated)
- This is how much each heir would receive based on your financial picture today.
- Ask yourself: Are you comfortable with this?
- Making Adjustments
- If you want to give someone more, consider gifting them assets during your lifetime, provided you’re not in a terminal state.
- Remember that gifting one of your assets would require that you change the list on the ‘Assets’ sheet in this workbook. That would effectively change the amounts calculated on this page.
6. In Trust
- Asset Type & Description
- Select the category (Real Estate, Bank Account, Vehicle, etc.) and briefly describe the item.
- Beneficial Owner
- Enter the name of the person who truly owns the asset.
- This person may not currently have physical possession but has legal or equitable rights to it.
- Approximate Value
- Provide a rough estimate of the asset’s worth.
- This gives an overview of what’s under your care.
- Notes / Access Details
- Include any important details (e.g., how long you’re holding it, special conditions, or access instructions).
- This helps your executor understand it’s not part of your estate but is being held for someone else.
- Why It Matters
- Assets “in trust” typically do not belong to you, so they shouldn’t be counted in your personal estate for inheritance.
- If you have a formal trust agreement, keep a copy with your estate documents for clarity.
7. Recurring Payments
- Payment or Expense Type
- Examples include mortgage, utilities, phone bills, insurance, subscriptions, and donations.
- Use the dropdown to categorize (e.g., Rent/Mortgage, Utilities, Car Insurance).
- Vendor / Provider
- The name of the company or individual you’re paying (e.g., “Rogers Wireless,” “Co-operators Insurance”).
- Amount
- The usual amount or approximate cost of each recurring payment.
- Frequency
- How often the bill is due (monthly, quarterly, annually, etc.).
- Payment Details
- Specify how each payment is made and from which account or card (e.g., “Pre-authorized debit from chequing account”).
- Why This Matters
- A clear list of recurring payments helps your executor know which bills must be continued (like mortgage or essential insurance) and which can be canceled (like subscriptions) after your passing.
- Providing this information reduces confusion and ensures that important obligations are handled promptly.
8. Online Accounts
- Account Type & Description
- Select the category (Email Account, Device, Social Media, etc.) and provide a brief description (e.g., “Gmail,” “iPhone 14”).
- User Name
- Enter the username or email associated with the account, so your executor can identify it.
- Notes / Access Details
- Indicate how to access (e.g., “Password is…”, “Password in physical folder” or “Code saved in safe”).
- You don’t have to list passwords here; you can keep them offline and simply reference where they’re stored.
- If you type out a password in this column, it’s best to delete it from the sheet after you print the entire workbook. It’s not safe to store your passwords unencrypted on a Google Sheet.
- Why This Matters
- With many accounts now digital, your executor needs to know what exists—and how to manage or close them after your passing.
9. Checklist
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- Task
- A specific action you need to complete during your estate planning process (e.g., “Complete the Islamic Will Workbook,” “Inform heirs of their shares,” etc.).
- Step
- Indicates which phase this task falls under:
- 1 – Discover (gather info, fill out the workbook)
- 2 – Discuss (consult family, heirs, or advisors)
- 3 – Document (finalize will, sign, store paperwork)
- Status
- Use this to track your progress (e.g., “Not Started,” “In Progress,” or “Done”).
- Notes
- Add any important reminders or details you want to keep in mind for each task (e.g., “Need to book an appointment with lawyer,” “Discuss guardianship with sister,” etc.).
9. Executor Quick Start Guide
- No Action Needed by You: There’s nothing to fill out here. This checklist is for your executor after your death.
- This checklist will be printed off with the rest of the Islamic Will Workbook. It will provide a simple task list to help the executor handle key steps smoothly.
How to Print the Workbook
- Go to “File” → “Print.”
- Select “Workbook” in the Print dropdown (instead of “Sheet” or “Selected cells”).
- Choose “All sheets” so the entire workbook is printed.
- Pick your paper size (e.g., Letter 8.5"x11"), orientation (landscape or portrait), and margins (normal).
- Click “Next” (or “Print”) and follow any final prompts from your printer.
How to Store the Workbook
- Store in Your Legacy Folder
- After printing, place the workbook with your other will-related documents in a folder. Label the folder your “Legacy Folder.”
- Inform your executor and backup executor about its exact location.
- Use the Workbook for the Next Steps
- Discuss: Use the workbook details to talk with family, heirs, or advisors. If anything changes, update the workbook and reprint it so it stays current.
- Document: The information in your workbook (executors, guardians, bequests) helps when drafting your Last Will and Testament.
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Written by Farooq Maseehuddin
Farooq Maseehuddin (MuslimMoney Guy) is a financial educator and writer. He holds both a Bachelor of Education (BEd.) and a Master of Education (MEd.) from the University of Alberta. He's been a high school teacher and Muslim community organizer for two decades.