and a number of other Companions. Abū ʿUbaydah appointed ʿUmar, may Allah be pleased with him, as his executor, and ʿUmar in turn entrusted the task to his daughter Ḥafṣah—may Allah be pleased with her—and, after her, to the senior members of his children.

Whoever lacks the ability to fulfil the duties of an executor, or does not trust himself to safeguard the estate, is not permitted to accept the appointment.

The person designated must be a Muslim; appointing a non-Muslim is invalid. He must also be legally responsible (mukallaf); hence a minor, an insane person, or an imbecile cannot be appointed, for such individuals are unfit to hold authority or manage property. However, it is permissible to make the appointment conditional upon a child’s attaining puberty, as indicated by the Prophet’s words: “Your commander is Zayd; if he is killed, then Jaʿfar.”

It is likewise valid to appoint a woman if she is competent to handle the affairs of the estate, for ʿUmar, may Allah be pleased with him, appointed Ḥafṣah, may Allah be pleased with her, and because women are accepted as witnesses; therefore, they may be executors just as men may.

It is also valid to appoint someone who is unable to perform the work himself but who has