What is the difference between a bequest (waṣiyyah) and a gift (hibah)?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
The difference between a gift (hiba) and a bequest (wasiya) is clear: a gift is what the giver hands over to the recipient during his lifetime, and it becomes the recipient's property, provided he takes possession of it before the giver's death or bankruptcy. As for a bequest, it is not executed until after the death of the testator and becomes the property of the legatee immediately upon death. Furthermore, a bequest is not permissible for more than one-third or less, whereas a person may gift all that he owns.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/30359
Where this answer came from
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- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 30359
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy