How should an estate bequest (Wasiyyah) be distributed when specified for the categories of Zakat mentioned in the Quran?

General Chapter

Al-Mughni

Book of Bequests

Book 31 · Issue 1 · Bab 1

Open in Qurani

Primary text

When a bequest is made to the categories of Zakat recipients mentioned in the Quran, those are the individuals entitled to receive the bequest. It is obligatory to allocate one-eighth of the bequest to each category, similar to a bequest made to eight tribes. The distinction from Zakat itself is that for Zakat, limiting distribution to a single category is permissible, whereas for a bequest, the intention is to specify who must receive the endowment. Distribution can be limited to a single individual within each category because including all members of the category is impossible.

Supporting text

The ruling that distribution can be limited to one person per category is narrated from the Companions of Ra'y (Ahl al-Ra'y).