In short
An Islamic will can follow faraid and also be valid in English law, if it meets the legal formalities: in writing, signed, and witnessed by two independent witnesses. Without a valid will, the intestacy rules apply, and they usually do not match faraid. Family members and dependants may still claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975.
Written by LawFiq. Islamic content reviewed by Shaykh Saad Al-Dhafiri; English law reviewed by Syed Ali Zakir, solicitor. Last reviewed 29 September 2026.
General information for England and Wales, not advice on your situation. The law and its application can change.
Without a valid will, the intestacy rules of England and Wales decide who inherits, and the result usually differs from faraid. This guide explains how an Islamic will can also meet the legal requirements for a will in England and Wales.
What faraid is
Faraid is the set of Islamic rules on inheritance. It sets fixed shares of an estate for specific heirs, a spouse, children, parents and others, in defined proportions. Distributing your estate according to faraid is not a preference; in Islam it is an obligation.
What happens if you die without a will
If you die without a valid will, your estate is shared under the intestacy rules of England and Wales. These rules follow their own formula for who inherits and how much. That formula was not designed around faraid, and it usually does not match it.
The result is that your wealth is divided in a way your religion does not intend, and heirs who should receive a share under Islam may receive nothing.
Intestacy can also do the reverse: giving shares to people faraid does not recognise, and leaving out those it does. For a Muslim, dying without a will is not a neutral act. It hands the distribution of your estate to a system that does not follow faraid.
The solution: a will that satisfies both
An Islamic will is the answer. Prepared properly, one will can follow faraid and also meet the legal requirements in England and Wales. Family members can still ask a court for reasonable provision under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, so the will should be drafted with that in mind.
Some assume an Islamic will and a legal will must be separate, or that one undermines the other. They do not. A well-drafted Islamic will is a legal will, structured to meet both requirements at once.
What a good Islamic will covers
- The correct faraid shares, calculated for your specific heirs
- Any permitted bequest (wasiyyah), within the limits Islam allows
- Guardianship arrangements for children
- The appointment of trustworthy executors
- Set out to meet the legal requirements in England and Wales
How we help
We calculate the correct faraid shares for your circumstances, draft a will that follows them, and check that it is legally valid. The legal work is carried out by our partner solicitors.
It is one of the most important things you can put in place, and one of the most straightforward. A single conversation is usually enough to begin.
Common questions
Is an Islamic will valid in the UK?
What happens if I die without a will?
Can one document satisfy both faraid and English law?
Sources
- Wills Act 1837
- Administration of Estates Act 1925 (intestacy rules)
- Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975
- Qur’an, Surah an-Nisa (4:11–12, 4:176)
Protect your estate
Our partner solicitors can prepare an Islamic will that follows faraid and meets the legal requirements in England and Wales.
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