After I Am Gone

No — and this distinction matters. After I Am Gone is a personal legacy planner, not a legal document. It does not replace an Islamic will (wasiyyah) or any formal legal will. We strongly encourage you to consult a qualified Islamic scholar and a qualified legal professional to ensure your estate is distributed in accordance with both Islamic law and the civil law in your country. This planner complements those documents by recording the practical, personal, and spiritual details that a formal will cannot capture.

Not at all. Death does not consult a calendar. Many of the sections — digital access, outstanding debts, messages to loved ones — are just as relevant at twenty-five as at seventy-five. In fact, beginning this process while you are well and clear-headed is a far greater gift than leaving it until it becomes urgent. The planner is designed for any Muslim adult who has people they love and responsibilities they carry.

Although After I Am Gone is published under The Intentional Muslimah, the planner itself is designed for every Muslim adult, regardless of gender. Every section is applicable to men and women alike. Legacy, accountability before Allah, and care for those we leave behind are shared obligations. Brothers: this planner is for you too.

The planner contains sensitive information — financial details, passwords, personal letters — and should be stored accordingly. A lockable drawer, a fireproof document folder, or a home safe are all suitable options. You may also wish to keep a sealed copy with your solicitor or a trusted family member, alongside a digital scan in a secure, encrypted location. The single most important step, however, is to tell one trusted person that it exists and where to find it.

After I Am Gone is a beautifully designed A4 guided journal, available as both a physical printed workbook and a printable digital PDF. The planner is intentionally designed to be completed by hand — in pencil, so it can be updated over time — because there is something irreplaceable about a document written in your own hand, in your own words. Details on formats and availability are available via the reserve link above.

That is entirely natural. Some sections — writing messages to your children, recording debts, documenting your funeral wishes — may feel heavy. You are not required to complete everything at once, or in order. Leave a section and return to it when you feel ready. Even a sentence is more than nothing. Even a name written down is something your family will be grateful for. Be gentle with yourself. This is an act of love, and love takes its time.