Sūrat al-Baqarah
Section 25 of 59 · Surah Studies · Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
Writing a Bequest
Next, Allah (swt) addresses the man who is near death, at verse 180:
كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذَا حَضَرَ أَحَدَكُمُ ٱلْمَوْتُ إِن تَرَكَ خَيْرًا ٱلْوَصِيَّةُ لِلْوَٰلِدَيْنِ وَٱلْأَقْرَبِينَ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ ۖ حَقًّا عَلَى ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ
“It is enjoined upon you, when death approaches any one of you and he leaves some wealth, that he must bequeath for the parents and the nearest of kin in the approved manner, being an obligation on the God-fearing.” (2:180)
Those who are near death, or who think they may die soon — and this is as fitting a moment as any to say it — should write a waṣiyyah. The full laws of inheritance have not yet been given at this point, but the instruction is that one should at least set down a bequest directing where one's estate is to go. It is encouraged here.