“But if anyone fears an inadvertent deviation or deliberate wrongdoing on the part of a testator and brings about a settlement among them, there is no sin upon him. Surely Allah is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.”

As for a bequest involving inequity, inadvertent deviation, or deliberate wrongdoing, anyone present when the testator makes it should counsel him to adopt what is best and most just, and should forbid him ⦗86⦘ from injustice and deviation. Deviation means mistakenly departing from justice without intending to do so, whereas wrongdoing means doing so deliberately.

If this is not done, he should reconcile those concerned by the bequest and seek to establish justice among them through mutual consent and settlement, exhorting them to clear their deceased relative of liability. By doing so, he has performed a tremendous good, and they incur no sin, unlike one who alters a valid bequest.

This is why He says, “Surely Allah is Most Forgiving”—that is, He forgives every lapse and absolves those who repent to Him of their liabilities. This includes His forgiveness of anyone who yields something of his own claim and relinquishes part of his right for his brother, for whoever pardons others will be pardoned by Allah. He is also Forgiving toward their deceased relative who acted unjustly in his bequest, if they seek His reward by mutually yielding to one another so that his liability may be cleared. He is Most Merciful to His servants, for He has prescribed for them everything through which they may show mercy and compassion to one another.

These verses therefore encourage the making of a bequest, clarify who is entitled to one, warn against altering a just bequest, and encourage reconciliation when a bequest is unjust.