Dear Yahya Camara, First, my apologies for the late response. I had promised to search for and provide Qur'anic references on the questions you raised in your post below, and here are the references to the first question. Your first question was: (1)Is there any part in the Holy Quran that states that muslims can make a "will"?(a testament to indicate the way in which their properties should be shared among their families if they die) The Quran gives detailed instruction regarding how property should be divided among relatives when one dies, and admonishes us to adhere to these strict guidelines. If we as muslims die in a muslim country, or in a country where the Islamic law on inheritance is applied by the community if one is a muslim, and regardless of the existence of other laws as stated in a consttution for e.g, like in The Gambia, this law of the Qur'an concerning inheritance is already known, and will be applied.Therefore, there is no mention of the need for a Will concerning how property is to be distributed among relatives. In Surah An-Nisa, the 4th Surah of the Holy Qur'an, starting in verse 7 And to everyone, We have appointed heirs of that (property) left by parents abd relatives. (Surah An-Nisa 4:33) There is share for men and a share for women from what is left by parents and those nearest related, whether, the property be small or large----- a legal share. And when the relatives and the orphans and the poor are present at the time of division give them out of the property, and speak to them words of kindness and justice. And let those (executors and guardians) have the same fear in their minds as they would have for their own, if they had left weak offspring behind, So let them fear Allah and speak right words. Verily those who unjustly eat up the property of orphans, they eat up only a fire into their bellies, and they will be burnt in the blazing fire! And Allah commands you as regards your children's (inheritance): to the male, a portion equal to that of two females; if (there are) only daughters, two or more, their share is two thirds of the inheritance; if only one, her share is half. For parents, a sixth share of inheritance to each if the deceased left children.If no children, and the parents are the only heirs,the mother has a third, if the deceased left brothers or (sisters), the mother has a sixth. (The distribution in all cases is)after the payment of legacies he may have bequeathed or debts. You know not which of them, whether your parents or your children, are nearest to you in benefit, (these fixed shares) are ordained by Allah, and Allah is Ever All-Knowing, All Wise. In that which your wives leave, your share is a half if they have no child, but if they leave a child, you get a fourth of that which they leave after payment of legacies that they may have bequeathed or debts. In that which you leave their ( your wives) share is a fourth if you leave no child, but if you leave a child, they get an eight of that which you leave after payment of legacies that you may have bequeathed or debts. If the man or woman whose inheritance is in question has left neither ascendants nor descendants, but has left a brother or a sister, each one of the two gets a sixth; but if more than two, they share in a third; after payment of legacies he ( or she) may hav bequeathed or debts, so that no loss is caused ( to anyone) This is a commandment from Allah, and Allah is Ever All-Knowing, Most Forbearing. These are the limits (set by) Allah ( or ordained as regards laws of inheritance), and whosoever obeys Allah and His Messenger (Muhammed (SAS), will be admitted to Gardens under which rivers flow ( in Paradise), to abide therein, and that will be the great success. (Surah An-Nisa 4:7-13) The laws regarding inheritance by ralatives is therefore clear for muslims according to the Qur'an. However, regarding wills, the Quran mentions Bequeathals that one can make to those other than your family as clearly indicated in the verses above, and that these are to be honoured. Such Bequethals would have to be recorded naturally to have record of them, and debts would also have to be recorded and the Qur'an infact does say that if one incurrs a debt, get witnesses to that effect also. In addition, the Qur'an also says: To those also with whom you have made a pledge, (brotherhood), give them their due portion by Wasiya ( Wills etc). Truely, Allah is Ever a Witness over all things. (Surah An-Nisa 4:33) Thus, Wills are mentioned in the Qur'an specifically in relation to bequeathals made to those other than family whose portion is already ordained by Allah. Also in the case of debt, even though this is not mentioned specifically, it can easily be seen that one can and should indeed have record of one's debts since it is an obligation to pay all debts of the deceased even before any sort of division of the deceased's property among relatives takes place.. Finally, as already mentioned by Habib earlier, if one resides in a non Islamic country where it is the law that one's estate automatically passes over to the state if one dies intestate, that is, without a Will, even if you have relatives present, it is prudent and a necessity to have a Will drawn and incorporate the Qur'anic laws regarding inheritance if one honours those laws. Also to incorporate any bequeathals to non relatives, as well as to keep updated records of all debts owed since all of these are obligations to be met on behalf of the deceased according to the Qur'an. I will post the references to the other two questions later inshallah. Jabou Joh ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~