Dua When Writing a Will
3 Things to Know About the Wasiyyah
Writing a will, known as the wasiyyah, is an act of wisdom and responsibility that the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) urged upon the believers, so that their affairs are set right and their loved ones provided for after they pass. As the believer writes their will, they turn to Allah for righteous offspring and sincere repentance, in the spirit of the beautiful prayer of the believer in the Quran who asked Allah to make their offspring righteous and declared their repentance and submission. The dua when writing a will brings this turning to Allah into the writing of the wasiyyah.
وَأَصْلِحْ لِي فِي ذُرِّيَّتِي إِنِّي تُبْتُ إِلَيْكَ وَإِنِّي مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ
Wa aslih li fi dhurriyyati, inni tubtu ilayka wa inni minal-muslimin.
“And make righteous for me my offspring; indeed I have repented to You, and indeed I am of the Muslims.”
The Prophet (pbuh) taught that it is not right for a Muslim with something to bequeath to pass even two nights without having their will written, showing how important it is to be prepared. This guide explains the dua when writing a will and three things to know about the wasiyyah, so that the believer may write their will as the Sunnah encourages, turn to Allah for righteous offspring and sincere repentance, and set their affairs right with justice and good intention, leaving behind good for those who remain and meeting Allah with their affairs in order and their heart turned to Him.
Turning to Allah as You Write
As the believer writes their will, they turn to Allah with the beautiful words quoted above, asking Him to make their offspring righteous and declaring their repentance and submission to Him. These words, part of a prayer Allah records in His Book, are fitting for the moment of writing a will, when the believer thinks of those they leave behind and turns their heart to Allah in repentance. By praying them, the believer asks Allah to bless their offspring and accepts their return to Him with a submitted heart.
Writing a will is a moment of reflection on death and what comes after, and so it is a natural time to turn to Allah in repentance and to pray for the righteousness of those who remain. The believer sets their worldly affairs in order while setting their heart in order before Allah. The dua when writing a will brings these together, as the believer asks Allah for righteous offspring and sincere repentance while preparing their wasiyyah with wisdom and good intention.
وَأَصْلِحْ لِي فِي ذُرِّيَّتِي
Wa aslih li fi dhurriyyati
Make righteous for me my offspring O my Lord
Three Things to Know About the Wasiyyah
Writing a will is an act of wisdom and responsibility. These three things help the believer prepare their wasiyyah.
- Write your will, as the Prophet (pbuh) urged, so your affairs are set right after you pass.
- Turn to Allah for righteous offspring and sincere repentance as you write.
- Set your affairs right with justice and good intention, following the guidance of Allah.
Setting Your Affairs Right
The dua when writing a will brings the turning to Allah into the writing of the wasiyyah. By writing your will as the Sunnah encourages, turning to Allah for righteous offspring and repentance, and setting your affairs right with justice, the believer prepares their wasiyyah in the best way. Writing a will is an act of wisdom and responsibility, and the believer who prepares it while turning their heart to Allah leaves behind good for those who remain and meets Allah with their affairs in order. For the distribution of inheritance, the believer follows the just shares Allah has ordained, seeking reliable scholarly guidance.
This supplication pairs naturally with the dua for a good ending and the dua for repentance. Together they help the believer prepare for death with a heart turned to Allah.
The Prophet (pbuh) urged the believer not to pass two nights without their will written. Learn the duas of the Hereafter with us on YouTube, where the supplications are recited aloud, on TikTok for a reminder about the wasiyyah, and on Pinterest where readers share how they prepare for the Hereafter.
Frequently Asked Questions
The dua when writing a will draws on the prayer of the believer in the Quran: Wa aslih li fi dhurriyyati, inni tubtu ilayka wa inni minal-muslimin, and make righteous for me my offspring; indeed I have repented to You, and I am of the Muslims.
The Prophet (pbuh) urged the believers to write their will so their affairs are set right and their loved ones provided for after they pass. He taught that a Muslim with something to bequeath should not pass even two nights without their will written.
The believer should write their will while they are able, not delaying it, for death may come at any time. The Prophet (pbuh) taught that being prepared with a written will is an act of wisdom and responsibility.
Allah has ordained just shares of inheritance for the heirs in His Book, and the believer follows these in their will, seeking reliable scholarly guidance. A bequest beyond the fixed shares is limited and must not wrong the rightful heirs.
Because writing a will is a moment of reflection on death and what comes after, making it a natural time to repent and pray for those who remain. The believer sets their worldly affairs in order while turning their heart to Allah.