Islamic law in London works alongside English law, not in place of it. To make sure your estate follows Islamic inheritance rules, you need a valid will. Most families delay this. Then a death happens, and English rules decide who inherits. That can divide a family overnight. The fix is simple. This guide to Islamic law in London explains probate and wills in 2026, and how Farani Taylor Solicitors can help you protect the people you love.
What is Islamic law in London and how does it work with English law?
Islamic law in London is a faith code, not a separate court system. English law decides what is legally binding. A Sharia compliant will lets both work together.
Can a mosque or scholar settle your estate? They can guide you, but they cannot enforce anything. Only the English courts and the Probate Registry hold that power. A well drafted will can follow faith rules and still meet the Wills Act 1837. That is the core of what Farani Taylor Solicitors does every week.
Zahur Chowdhry, our Head of Islamic Wills, is trained in the Islamic law of succession and has over three decades of experience. According to our three decades of experience, most problems start with a missing or badly written will.
Why do Muslim families in London need an Islamic will?
Because without one, English intestacy rules apply, and they ignore Islamic shares. Parents, siblings and unmarried partners can be left with nothing. A will puts your wishes in charge.
Picture a father near Whitechapel Road. He owns a flat and has three children. He dies with no will. The law splits his estate by a fixed formula. His faith guidance is never followed. His family argues for years. A short meeting with a solicitor would have prevented it.
A will also lets you name executors, choose guardians for young children and record burial wishes. Farani Taylor Solicitors sees these gaps often.
What does Islamic inheritance law say about who gets what?
Islamic inheritance law, called faraid, sets fixed shares for close relatives. You may also leave up to one third of your estate to anyone else, such as a charity or a step child.
| Relative | Typical share |
|---|---|
| Wife, with children | One eighth |
| Wife, no children | One quarter |
| Husband, with children | One quarter |
| Husband, no children | One half |
| Mother, with children | One sixth |
| Only daughter, no sons | One half |
Shares change with each family, so check your own case with a specialist. Islamic law in London only becomes practical when a solicitor turns these rules into legal wording.
How do I write a Sharia compliant will in London in 2026?
Pick a specialist solicitor, list your assets and heirs, name executors, then sign with two witnesses. Follow these steps.
- List your assets, debts and family members.
- Speak to a solicitor who knows faraid and English law.
- Decide how to use your one third bequest.
- Name trusted executors and guardians.
- Sign in front of two adult witnesses who do not benefit from the will.
- Review it after marriage, a birth, divorce or a property purchase.
Ready to start? Book a call with Farani Taylor Solicitors and get a will that respects your faith and the law. [Internal link: Islamic Wills]
How do probate and wills work together for Muslim families?
A will names who handles your estate. Probate is the legal permission that lets them do it. Without it, banks and the Land Registry will not release assets.
Your executor applies for a Grant of Probate, pays any inheritance tax, settles debts, then shares the estate. In 2026, the standard nil-rate band is £325,000. A home passed to direct descendants can add £175,000. Tax above that is charged at 40 percent. Many Muslim families also want a quick burial and fast debt payment, so executors must know the plan early.
Our estate planning team can help with probate whether or not a will is in place. Handling probate and wills under one roof keeps things calmer during a hard time. Farani Taylor Solicitors guides executors through every step. [Internal link: Probate]
What happens if someone dies without a will in London?
The intestacy rules apply, and the estate follows a legal formula, not faith. When there are children, a spouse usually receives personal items, the first £322,000 and half of the rest. The children share what remains.
Parents and siblings get nothing in that case. An unmarried partner gets nothing either. Farani Taylor Solicitors often meets families in exactly this spot, and probate takes longer without a will.
Does an Islamic marriage count for inheritance in London?
Not always. A nikah alone may not be a legal marriage in England, so a partner could inherit nothing without a will. Register a civil marriage or name your spouse in a will. Both protect your family. Farani Taylor Solicitors also offers Sharia law divorce services, so you can ask about both in one place
Why choose Farani Taylor Solicitors for Islamic law in London?
Choose a firm that knows both legal systems and can prove it. Here is what backs us up.
- Farani Taylor Solicitors is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
- Farani Taylor Solicitors has worked with East London Mosque to help members draft Wills that combine Islamic principles and UK law.
- We have offices in Ilford, Norbury and Wimbledon, plus our central London base.
- Based on [X] completed wills and probate matters, we know where families get stuck.
Every client of Farani Taylor Solicitors gets clear, kind advice with no jargon.
Who lives in London, and why does it matter?
London has about 8.8 million residents. Muslims make up 15 percent of Londoners, up from 12.6 percent in 2011. Tower Hamlets has the highest Muslim share in England and Wales at 39.9 percent, and Newham sits at 34.8 percent. From East London Mosque on Whitechapel Road to Regent’s Park, mosques anchor community life. Wills are a growing topic in every one of them.
What makes London estates tricky?
Property values are high, so many estates pass the inheritance tax threshold. Many families also own homes or land abroad. Cross border assets need careful drafting, especially when probate and wills involve more than one country. Farani Taylor Solicitors builds wills that handle English property, overseas land and Islamic shares together. Good advice on Islamic law in London should cover all three, and it should plan for probate from day one.
Where can I find Farani Taylor Solicitors in London?
Our head office sits near Blackfriars and St Paul’s Cathedral. You will find us at Mermaid House, Puddle Dock, London EC4V 3DB. Call 0207 242 1666, Monday to Friday.
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Serving clients in [Ilford], [Norbury], [Wimbledon], [Tower Hamlets] and [Newham]. Farani Taylor Solicitors welcomes visits and video calls.
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What are the quick answers on Islamic law in London?
- Is Islamic law legally binding in London? No. English law governs, so put your wishes in a valid will.
- How much can I leave freely? Up to one third of your estate.
- Who gets fixed shares? Close relatives such as spouses, children and parents under faraid.
- What if there is no will? English intestacy rules decide, not Islamic shares.
- What makes a will valid? Writing, your signature and two adult witnesses.
- Who can help? A solicitor like Farani Taylor Solicitors, who knows both systems.
People Also Ask
Is Islamic law recognised in the UK?
Not as a separate legal system. Islamic principles can shape private choices such as wills, but English courts apply English law. A properly drafted will bridges the gap.
Do I need a solicitor for an Islamic will?
The law does not require one. However, witnessing or wording mistakes can void a will or defeat faith wishes. Farani Taylor Solicitors removes that risk with specialist drafting.
Can a non-Muslim benefit from an Islamic will?
Yes, through the one third bequest. Friends, non-Muslim relatives or charities can receive that share, while fixed shares go to Muslim heirs under faraid.
How long does probate take in London?
Simple estates may finish within a few months. Estates with property or tax often take a year or more. A clear will and organised paperwork speed things up.
Whether you are starting a will or facing probate, Farani Taylor Solicitors is ready to help. Call 0207 242 1666 today.
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- Faraid shares infographic. Alt: Chart showing Islamic inheritance shares for spouse, children and parents in a London Sharia compliant will.
- Executor checklist. Alt: Six step probate and wills checklist for Muslim families in London.
- Office photo. Alt: Farani Taylor Solicitors office near Puddle Dock and Blackfriars, London.
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Internal links to place: Islamic Wills, Probate, Estate Planning, Family Law, Sharia Law Divorce, Immigration, Conveyancing.
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