Waṣiyyah and Intergenerational Wealth Transmission in Islamic Law: An Investment Vision
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31436/ijfus.v10i1.389Keywords:
Waṣiyyah, Stewardship, Social Justice, Wealth Distribution, Continuous RewardAbstract
This study explores the concept of waṣiyyah (Islamic will) from a spiritual, civilizational, and economic perspective, explaining it as a dual-benefit investment—both in this world and in the hereafter. The researcher reviews the evolution of idea of ownership in human thought and distinguishes between the religious and Western perspectives on money. The paper underscores the legal basis of waṣiyyah as derived from the Quran and Sunnah, explaining how it is a civilizational tool that can be invested to ensure the sustainability of welfare for the poor and non-heir relatives, and to achieve social balance. The study highlights the importance of writing the waṣiyyah and defining its legal and moral objectives, clarifying the difference between endowment (waqf) and waṣiyyah. It also sheds light on how to preserve this wealth through investment, advance planning, and fairness in distribution, noting that the waṣiyyah is not a merely formal procedure, but rather an integrated project that reflects the spirit of stewardship. The research adopted the analytical-inductive method to trace the legal texts and analyze the statements of jurists, the comparative method to examine the balance between waṣiyyah and waqf, the historical-critical method to demonstrate the evolution of the concept of ownership, and the descriptive-thematic analysis to clarify contemporary applications with practical examples.
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