Is making a will (wasiyya) obligatory?

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Making a will is obligatory only upon one who has debts, holds a trust (wadi'ah), or has an obligation from which he must make provision for its fulfillment, because Allah obligated the fulfillment of trusts, and the way to do so in this matter is through a will. As for willing a portion of one's wealth generally, it is not obligatory upon anyone, according to the opinion of the majority of scholars. This view is held by Al-Sha'bi, Al-Nakha'i, Al-Thawri, Malik, Al-Shafi'i, the Ashab al-Ra'y, and others. Ibn Abd al-Barr stated that there is a consensus that the will is not obligatory except for one who has undisputed rights or a trust without witnesses. The evidence for the non-obligation of a general will is derived from the practice that most Companions of the Messenger of Allah did not convey a will, and no disapproval regarding this omission was reported. Furthermore, the will is a gift which is not obligatory during life, so it is not obligatory after death, similar to gifts given to strangers.