Problems of practical Implementation of Wills in Islam among Muslims in Mueang District, Yala Province

Abstract

This research aimed to 1) study wills in Islam, 2) examine the problems, obstacles, and solutions regarding the practical implementation of wills among Muslims in Mueang District, Yala Province. This research was a documentary and field research, collecting data based on evidence from the Quran, Hadith, and scholarly opinions reviewing relevant research papers, internet resources, and other information sources for analysis and conclusion. Field research was executed by a survey using questionnaires and interviews for data collection and quantitative data analysis, percentage. The interview sample consisted of imams and mosque committees in Mueang District, Yala Province, totaling 20 interviewees. The survey sample included mosque committees, Muslim men, and Muslim women in Mueang District, Yala Province, totaling 130 individuals. The findings of this research revealed that wills are a legal act recognized by Islamic law. It is considered Sunnah for those with significant wealth and whose heirs are not in financial hardship to allocate a portion of their wealth to non-heirs through a will, not exceeding one-third of their total assets.

          The problems and obstacles in drafting wills among Muslims in Mueang District, Yala Province because of a lack of understanding of the principles and processes of drafting Islamic wills, as well as the inability to distinguish between inheritance and wills. Additionally, some areas lack knowledgeable scholars who understand Islamic wills. Organizations or relevant sectors, such as the Provincial Islamic Council and mosque imams, do not collaborate to draft regulations for the official implementation and dissemination of Islamic wills to the Muslim community in the area. The proposed solutions to improve the practical implementation of wills among Muslims in Mueang District, Yala Province, included organizing educational programs on the fundamentals of Islamic wills in public and private institutions at all levels