National Wills Week 2026 – Prepare Today, Protect Tomorrow
National Wills Week takes place across South Africa from 14 to 18 September 2026, providing an important reminder to consider one of the most important, yet often overlooked aspects of financial planning – having a valid and up-to-date Will.
A Will is far more than a legal document. It is an essential part of responsible financial planning and a meaningful expression of care for the people that matter to you. It provides clarity about your wishes, helps protect those you leave behind and ensures that the assets you have built over a lifetime are dealt with as you intended.
Much of financial planning naturally focuses on life today and the years ahead, saving, investing, buying a home, growing wealth and providing for our families. Yet a truly comprehensive financial plan should also consider what happens to those assets when we are no longer here.
National Wills Week is therefore an opportunity to do more than simply prepare or review your Will. It is an invitation to reflect on your broader financial affairs; consider the legacy you want to leave behind and put the right plans in place today to protect tomorrow.
Why is a Will so important?
A properly prepared Will provides clarity about how your estate should be distributed and helps ensure that your wishes are understood and respected. Without a valid Will, your estate will be distributed according to the Intestate Succession Act of South Africa, rather than according to your own wishes.
For Muslims, an Islamic Will helps ensure that an estate is administered and distributed in accordance with the principles of Shariah, allowing Islamic inheritance requirements to be considered alongside the applicable laws of South Africa. Without an Islamic Will, the distribution of an estate under South African intestate succession laws may result in outcomes that do not align with Islamic laws of inheritance.
Having an Islamic Will in place therefore brings together two important responsibilities: putting your financial affairs in order and ensuring that the legacy you leave behind is managed in a manner that accords with your faith.
Protecting your family and your legacy
The absence of a clear Will can create uncertainty at an already difficult time for a family. Questions around the distribution of assets, the administration of an estate and the wishes of the deceased can potentially lead to delays and disagreements.
A valid Will provides greater certainty and clarity. It also allows you to nominate an executor whom you trust to administer your estate, providing reassurance that your affairs will be handled appropriately.
In this regard, it is reported that the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said: “It is not advisable for any Muslim who has something to will to stay for two nights without having his last will and testament written and kept ready with him.” (Sahih al-Bukhari)
Importantly, a Will should not simply be prepared and then forgotten. Significant changes in your personal circumstances, such as marriage, divorce or the death of your nominated executor, may mean that an existing Will no longer adequately reflects your circumstances.
National Wills Week is therefore a useful annual reminder to ask: Is my Will up to date?
An opportunity to review your financial preparedness
Preparing for the future extends beyond having a Will. Understanding your assets and liabilities, keeping important financial information organised and ensuring that appropriate arrangements are in place can make the administration of an estate considerably easier for those left behind.
Use National Wills Week as an opportunity to review your financial position, ensure that important documents are accessible, consider whether your existing arrangements still meet your family's needs, and update your Will where necessary.
Taking these steps today can provide greater certainty for tomorrow.
As South Africa's pioneer of Islamic banking, Al Baraka Bank understands the importance of protecting your family's future in a manner that is consistent with Shariah principles. In support of National Wills Week 2026, the Bank continues to encourage members of the community to take this important step towards responsible financial and estate planning. The Al Baraka Islamic Will can be downloaded directly from the Bank’s website (click here) or a free copy can be obtained from any Bank branch.
Preparing a valid Islamic Will is one of the most meaningful acts of financial responsibility you can undertake. It helps protect your family, preserve your legacy and ensure that your estate is dealt with in accordance with Islamic laws of inheritance.
This National Wills Week, don't simply think about your Will. Use it as a reminder to prepare your finances, review your affairs and plan responsibly for those who matter most.
Prepare today. Protect your family. Preserve your legacy.