Yoosuf Mufthi

Maldives: Faith, Vision, and Reflection

Alhamdulillah, I recently visited the Maldives on a personal trip with a few close friends. During this visit, I had the opportunity to engage with the Tamil-speaking Muslim expatriate community in Maldives.

Over the years, I have witnessed the Maldives grow into a well-developed and organized nation despite its limited natural resources—demonstrating that vision, planning, and commitment are key to progress.

A notable strength is the central role of the Masjid in community life, integrating faith with social and institutional development.

During my stay, I conducted a program at the King Salman Mosque in Male, under the patronage and guidance of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs - Maldives
where a dedicated group gathered. Alhamdulillah, it was a meaningful opportunity to share and connect. I pray that Allah accepts this humble effort.

The Maldives remains a powerful example that true progress is shaped not by resources, but by mindset and direction.

والله ولي التوفيق

Inheritance Is Not Just Distribution:

Why the Quran Places the Will Before the Estate.

In moments of loss—when a life quietly closes and accountability begins—the first question people tend to ask is disarmingly simple: How will the estate be divided? It is a natural question, almost instinctive. Yet the Quran invites us to ask a better one.

In its verses on inheritance, a striking directive is repeated with deliberate emphasis:
﴿مِن بَعْدِ وَصِيَّةٍ يُوصِي بِهَا أَوْ دَيْنٍ﴾

Before shares are calculated, before proportions are assigned, before wealth reaches the hands of heirs, the will and the debt come first. This is not a legal technicality; it is a moral reordering. The Quran shifts our focus from distribution to responsibility, reminding us that wealth, at the moment of death, does not instantly become the right of heirs—it remains a trust, burdened with obligations that must first be fulfilled.

In common understanding today, a “will” is often reduced to a simple act: leaving behind a portion of wealth for someone. But in the Islamic framework, a will is far more than a financial instruction—it is a final act of accountability before Allah. It begins with clarity. A person is expected to document what they owe and what is owed to them, to clarify financial dealings, and to record trusts and responsibilities. In doing so, they protect others from confusion, conflict, and injustice. How many families have been torn apart because something was left unclear? How many rights have been buried with the deceased because they were never written down? In this sense, writing a will is not merely advisable—it is an ethical obligation, and in many cases, a means of safeguarding one’s accountability before Allah.

The will also opens a pathway beyond death. When a person realizes that their deeds will come to an end, they begin to see their wealth differently. It is no longer just possession; it becomes potential. Through a will, one can establish ongoing charity—a contribution to a noble cause, a lasting endowment, a quiet act of generosity that continues to benefit others long after one is gone. Here, the will transforms from a worldly instruction into an investment in the Hereafter. The Prophet ( Peace Be Upon Him) beautifully emphasized this opportunity when he said:

“Indeed, Allah has given you an extra charity at the time of your death: one-third of your wealth.”

«إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَصَدَّقَ عَلَيْكُمْ بِثُلُثِ أَمْوَالِكُمْ عِنْدَ وَفَاتِكُمْ زِيَادَةً فِي أَعْمَالِكُمْ»

At the same time, the precision of inheritance law does not always capture the full complexity of human relationships. It distributes wealth according to defined ties and fixed shares, yet life often extends beyond these structures. There are those who fall outside the formal system: a grandchild whose parent passed away before the grandparent, siblings excluded due to closer heirs, individuals who stood by us in times of need, or relationships defined not by legal entitlement but by loyalty, sacrifice, and care. The will creates space for these realities. It allows for a form of justice that is not merely calculated, but compassionate.

There is also a principle within Islamic law that may initially seem strict: inheritance is tied to the bond of shared faith, and therefore does not occur between individuals of different religions. At the same time, Islam upholds dignity, respect, and humane coexistence with people of other faiths. A Muslim man, for example, is permitted to marry a chaste woman from the People of the Book, such as a Christian or Jewish woman, within the well-known conditions of Islamic law. This reflects a framework that recognizes social interaction and respect, while preserving clear theological boundaries.

In such situations, however, the laws of inheritance remain distinct. A Muslim and a non-Muslim spouse do not inherit from one another. Yet the system does not close the door to care; rather, it redirects it. Through the will, a person is given the ability to provide for such a spouse, or for any loved one outside the inheritance system, within the defined one-third. In this way, the will becomes a bridge—ensuring that compassion, loyalty, and responsibility are not lost, even where legal entitlement does not apply. It is here that the depth of the Islamic system becomes clear: firm in principle, yet expansive in mercy.

Despite its flexibility, the will is not without boundaries. It cannot be used to favor existing heirs unfairly without their consent, it must not exceed one-third of the estate, and it cannot be used to endorse what is unlawful. This is not restriction, but balance—a disciplined freedom that ensures individual intention does not compromise collective justice.

The Quran reinforces the seriousness of this institution with a firm warning:

﴿فَمَن بَدَّلَهُ بَعْدَ مَا سَمِعَهُ فَإِنَّمَا إِثْمُهُ عَلَى الَّذِينَ يُبَدِّلُونَهُ﴾
A will is not a casual statement; it is a binding trust. To manipulate it, ignore it, or distort it is not merely a legal violation—it is a moral betrayal.

In the end, the Quran offers a profoundly different vision of what wealth means after death. It is not simply a set of numbers to be divided, but a story to be concluded with integrity, obligations to be fulfilled, relationships to be honored, and an eternal future to be prepared for. Perhaps, then, the question we should be asking is not only how much we will leave behind, but how we will leave it.