Our Shaykh, Muḥammad ibn Ḥizām, may Allāh preserve him, was asked the following question:

Question: “If a man while he is alive, he divides that which he owns upon those who will inherit it, is it correct?”

Answer: “Dividing one’s wealth before death is in opposition to the guidance of the prophet ﷺ; this is a legislative opposition because he doesn’t know if some of his children will pass away before him, and thus they don’t deserve that inheritance. If the man divides his wealth in order to gift it to them, then that is permissible, but he should deal justly between his children and not deprive any of them. This is considered a gift and not a testament. Nonetheless, he is advised to leave that off since he himself may later become in need of while whilst he has already given it to them and so differing will occur.” End. [Reference]

Translated by

Majid Jawed Al-Afghanee
Abu Aisha