Islamic will (wasiyya) in New York

What your wasiyya (will) covers

• What you owe to Allah — zakat, Hajj, missed prayers and fasts, kaffara, and khums for Shia members.
• What you owe to people — debts and trusts (amanat).
• Your heirs' shares under the Qur'an, by the Sunni schools or the Jaʿfari school, as a guide for your executor.
• Up to one-third for the causes and people you choose, your executor, and guardians for young children.

Signing it so it holds up in New York

Each US state sets its own rules for signing a will. Most ask for your signature in front of two adult witnesses — safest if they inherit nothing under it — and some let you add a notarized "self-proving" statement so the witnesses needn't be found later. Read New York's will rules (FindLaw).

Your wasiyya (will) on Islamic Souls comes out as a PDF to print and sign, and you keep the signed copy on your private page so it's never lost.

Passing things on without probate in New York

• Your home: New York allows a transfer-on-death deed, so a home can pass to the people you name without probate. New York allows transfer-on-death deeds for real estate (Real Property Law 424, added in 2024).
• Small estates: Personal property under $50,000 can be handled by voluntary administration in Surrogate's Court; owning real estate alone disqualifies it.

Sources: NY Real Property Law 424 · NY CourtHelp - Small estates

Members can ask a licensed estate attorney to prepare a trust or deed and write the Islamic shares into it. More about avoiding probate.