What We Leave Behind: Legal, Ethical and Spiritual Legacy Planning
Many of us have questions about how to approach wills and inheritance — especially when trying to honour both religious values and legal requirements.
Bringing together legal expertise and an Islamic perspective, the event will highlight common challenges, points of overlap and difference between English law and Shariah, and areas where careful planning can help avoid confusion or conflict.
🔍 What We’ll Cover
English law and Islamic duties: a comparison of legal rights (testamentary freedom, intestacy, inheritance tax) and Shariah obligations (fixed shares, moral and spiritual responsibilities).
Where tensions can arise: key areas where the two frameworks may conflict — such as spousal maintenance, tax planning, or the division of assets — and how families might approach these questions thoughtfully.
Real-life case studies: scenarios showing what can happen when wills are — or aren’t — carefully planned, and what lessons can be drawn from them.
Challenges around complex family or financial situations: considerations for those with property abroad, family-run businesses, multiple heirs, or blended families.
Framing legacy more broadly: reflections on how faith and values can shape the way we think about inheritance, responsibility, and family care.
🎙️ Speakers
Sister Zahra Kanani is a UK-qualified Solicitor and Chartered Tax Adviser specialising in wills and tax planning. She has been a Solicitor for the last 15 years and is currently a Legal Director at Howard Kennedy LLP, a full service law firm based in Central London. Zahra is an active member of Hyderi (KSI South London) Jamaat. After many years at Hyderi Madressa, she now serves on the Hyderi Ladies Tabligh Team.
Shaykh Ali Abbas Malik is from London, UK. After graduating in Law, he moved to Najaf in 2009 to pursue further Islamic studies at the Hawza, specialising in Fiqh and Usul al-Fiqh. He studied at the Bahth al-Kharij level under senior scholars for a number of years before returning to the UK in 2018. He completed a Master’s in Islamic Studies at the Markfield Institute and is currently Director of Islamic Education at Jaffaria Academy. He works and lectures in local communities, and his focus includes research, Hawza education, and the Islamic education of children and youth.
📍 Event Details
📅 Date: Sunday 19th October 2025
🕖 Time: 2:00 PM
📍 Venue: WF House, Moorhall Road, Harefield, UB9 6NS
🍽️ Food will be served | 🅿️ Free parking available
🎫 Limited seats available — registration required.
