Does the heirs' approval of the will take place before or after death?

Bequests are legislated by the Qur'an, the Sunnah, and the consensus of the Ummah. Allah Almighty says: ﴿بعد وصية يوصي بها أو دين﴾ (after any bequest which was made or debt). And in the agreed-upon Hadith of Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas: "One-third, and one-third is much. Indeed, that you leave your heirs wealthy is better than that you leave them dependent, begging from people."

The consent of the heirs is not required for a bequest as long as it is within one-third or less. However, if it exceeds one-third, the consent of the mature and discerning heirs is necessary to enforce the excess.