Question:-
What is the validity of a hand-written bequest that is attached to one’s Will?
Answer:-
A written Wasiyyah is valid in terms of Shariah, particularly if the heirs accept that it was written and signed by the deceased himself. However, the Wasiyyat will only be valid in favour of non-heirs (at the time of demise) to a maximum of one third of the estate. A bequest made in favour of an heir will not be valid unless the remaining heirs consent to it.
Yes, from a secular point of view, the master of the court would not accept a written bequest unless it is signed by the deceased and witnessed by two witnesses. This is referred to as a ‘codicil.’ If the bequest was not signed and witnessed, then it will have to be approved by way of a high court order.
وَتَنْعَقِدُ الْوَصِيَّةُ بِالْكِتَابَةِ كَاللَّفْظِ بِاتِّفَاقِ (الموسوعة الفقهية الكويتية ص227 ج43)
مَا حَقُّ امْرِئٍ مُسْلِمٍ لَهُ شَيْءٌ يُوصِي فِيهِ يَبِيتُ ثَلاَثَ لَيَالٍ إِلاَّ وَوَصِيَّتُهُ مَكْتُوبَةٌ عِنْدَهُ وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْ أَمْرًا زَائِدًا عَلَى الْكِتَابَةِ، فَدَل عَلَى الاِكْتِفَاءِ بِهَا، وَلأِنَّهُ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَتَبَ إِلَى عُمَّالِهِ وَغَيْرِهِمْ مُلْزِمًا لِلْعَمَل بِتِلْكَ الْكِتَابَةِ وَكَذَا الْخُلَفَاءُ الرَّاشِدُونَ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ، وَلأِنَّ الْكِتَابَةَ تُنْبِئُ عَنِ الْمَقْصُودِ فَهِيَ كَاللَّفْظِ.
إِلاَّ أَنَّ الشَّافِعِيَّةَ اعْتَبَرُوا الْكِتَابَةَ كِنَايَةً فَلاَ تَنْعَقِدُ بِهَا إِلاَّ مَعَ النِّيَّةِ، وَلاَ بُدَّ مِنَ الاِعْتِرَافِ بِهَا نُطْقًا مِنَ الْوَصِيِّ أَوْ مِنْ وَارِثِهِ
وَاشْتَرَطَ الْحَنَابِلَةُ لِصِحَّةِ الْوَصِيَّةِ بِالْكِتَابَةِ وَالْعَمَل بِهَا أَنْ تَكُونَ الْوَصِيَّةُ الْمَكْتُوبَةُ بِخَطِّ الْمُوصِي الثَّابِتِ بِإِقْرَارِ وَرَثَتِهِ أَوْ بِبَيِّنَةٍ تُعَرِّفُ خَطَّهُ. (الموسوعة الفقهية الكويتية ص228 ج43)
ALLAH TA’ALA KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:-
Mufti Mohammed Desai
Date: 19 Dhul Hijjah 1443 / 19 July 2022
