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Wasi

The executor of a wasiyyah — and, in classical usage, guardian of minor children.

This is legal information only. For advice on your own circumstances, speak to a lawyer.

The executor of a wasiyyah — and, in classical usage, guardian of minor children.

In Islamic law

The wasi carries out the bequest, settles debts and may have care of minors. Scholars generally require the wasi to be of sound judgement and trustworthy.

In Canadian law

Maps onto two separate Canadian appointments: the estate trustee for the property, and the guardian of the person for minor children. A Canadian will should name both explicitly, since one appointment does not imply the other.

Across the madhahib

We have not yet researched whether the four Sunni schools differ on this term, so we are not going to tell you either way. Where a specific case turns on it, ask a qualified scholar rather than relying on a general summary.

Canadian legal detail

Treadstone Law, an Ontario firm with a wills and estates practice, covers the Canadian side of this in more depth:

Note

This is legal information only. For advice on your own circumstances, speak to a lawyer.

Citations & sources

Every factual claim on this page traces to a source below. Details change — check the original source before relying on any figure, fee or legal position. Anything under “further reading” is related material, not a source for what is stated here.

Islamic primary sources
  1. Surah an-Nisa 4:11 — shares of children and parents — Quran.com
  2. Surah an-Nisa 4:12 — shares of spouses and uterine siblings — Quran.com
  3. Surah an-Nisa 4:176 — the kalalah verse — Quran.com
  4. Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 85: Laws of Inheritance (Faraid) — Sunnah.com
  5. Sahih Muslim, Book of Inheritance — Sunnah.com
Scholarly & institutional references
  1. Encyclopaedia of Islam — Brill
  2. Oxford Islamic Studies / Oxford Reference — Oxford University Press
Further reading — Treadstone Law
  1. Guardian minor children will ontario — Treadstone Law
  2. Appointing guardian for minor children ontario — Treadstone Law
  3. Naming guardian minor children ontario will — Treadstone Law
  4. Changing will guardian appointment ontario — Treadstone Law
  5. Wills & estates practice — Treadstone Law