On the sounder view, grinding wheat that has been bequeathed, sowing it, kneading its flour, spinning cotton, weaving the spun yarn, cutting cloth into a shirt, or building or planting in a courtyard—all of these acts revoke the bequest.

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It is recommended that a testator issue instructions for paying his debts, executing his legacies, and overseeing the affairs of his children. The executor must be legally competent, free, upright, capable of managing the property in question, and Muslim, although the sounder opinion permits a dhimmī to appoint a fellow dhimmī. Blindness does not invalidate the appointment on the sounder view, maleness is not required, and the children’s mother enjoys priority over others. The executor is dismissed upon openly sinful conduct, as is a judge on the sounder opinion—though not the supreme imam.

Appointing an executor specifically to settle debts is valid, and any bequest made by a free, legally accountable person takes effect. When children are involved, the executor must also have legal guardianship over them. An executor may not in turn appoint another executor unless the testator expressly authorises it, which is permissible on the preferred view. If the testator says, “I appoint you until my son comes of age, or until Zayd arrives; once he comes of age or Zayd arrives, he is the executor,” the arrangement is valid. It is impermissible to appoint an executor while the agnatic grandfather—who holds the right of guardianship—is alive, and likewise impermissible to bequeath the power to marry off a minor boy or girl.

The appointment is effected by wording such as “I appoint you as my executor” or “I delegate the matter to you.” It may be limited to a set time or made conditional, but the scope of the executor’s authority must be specified; a bare “I appoint you” is void. Acceptance is required, and—on the sounder view—the appointment does not become operative during the testator’s lifetime. If two executors are named, neither may act alone unless the testator has made this explicit. Both the testator and the executor may dismiss the executor whenever they wish. When the child reaches majority and disputes with the executor over what was spent on his maintenance, the executor’s word is accepted; but if they dispute about what the executor handed over to him after puberty, the child’s word prevails.