Disposing of Masjid items

Question:-

A few questions from a Masjid committee:

1- Carpets that have been removed/replaced at the masjid

We have Musallees interested in purchasing them so we plan to edge the sides, charge the Musallee for that and request they give a donation to the Masjid

1.1 – Is that in order?

1.2- Do we need to ask permission from the person who made it Waqf to the Masjid?

 

2- Damaged, unusable items such as a broken vacuum, Quraan stands, etc.

2.1- Can we just throw them away?

2.2- Do we need to inform the donor?

2.3- If the donor cannot be located, what should be done?

 

3- Items that have been given to the Masjid but are not currently in use, or not going to be used in the future, but are still in a usable condition.

3.1 – Can we sell them at a fair value and use the money in the Masjid?

3.2 – Should they be donated to another Masjid that will use them?

3.3- Do we need donors permission?

Answer:-

1. We assume that the carpets which have been removed from the Masjid are old carpets (that have been replaced with new carpets), but are still usable. If these carpets can be used in any other section of the Masjid, then it should be used in another section of the Masjid. If this is not possible at this point IN time as the Masjid is fully carpeted, then the carpets should be sold at fair market value and the funds used for other Masjid related projects that may come up in the future, such as, replacing the ceiling, or replacing Musallahs in future etc. Merely requesting a donation will not suffice, but a price should be attached to the Musallahs and it then sold. The Mutawallis may decide in regards to this matter and they should stipulate the price of the Musallahs at a market-related rate.

جو سامان وہاں نہیں لگ سکتا اس کو فروخت کرکے قیمت تعمیر مسجد میں خرچ کردیں، یعنی اس قیمت کا سامان اس مسجد میں لگادیں (فتاوی محمودیہ ص۲۸۴ ج۲۱)

وَنُقِلَ فِي الذَّخِيرَةِ عَنْ شَمْسِ الْأَئِمَّةِ الْحَلْوَانِيِّ أَنَّهُ سُئِلَ عَنْ مَسْجِدٍ أَوْ حَوْضٍ خَرِبَ، وَلَا يَحْتَاجُ إلَيْهِ لِتَفَرُّقِ النَّاسِ عَنْهُ هَلْ لِلْقَاضِي أَنْ يَصْرِفَ أَوْقَافَهُ إلَى مَسْجِدٍ أَوْ حَوْضٍ آخَرَ: فَقَالَ: نَعَمْ وَمِثْلُهُ فِي الْبَحْرِ عَنْ الْقُنْيَةِ وُلِلشُّرُنْبُلَالِيِّ رِسَالَةٌ فِي الْمَسْأَلَةِ اعْتَرَضَ فِيهَا مَا فِي الْمَتْنِ تَبَعًا لِلدُّرَرِ بِمَا مَرَّ عَنْ الْحَاوِي وَغَيْرِهِ، ثُمَّ قَالَ وَبِذَلِكَ تُعْلَمُ فَتْوَى بَعْضِ مَشَايِخِ عَصْرِنَا بَلْ وَمَنْ قَبْلَهُمْ كَالشَّيْخِ الْإِمَامِ أَمِينِ الدِّينِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْعَالِ وَالشَّيْخِ الْإِمَامِ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ يُونُسَ الشَّلَبِيِّ وَالشَّيْخِ زَيْنِ بْنِ نُجَيْمٍ وَالشَّيْخِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْوَفَائِيِّ فَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ أَفْتَى بِنَقْلِ بِنَاءِ الْمَسْجِدِ، وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ أَفْتَى بِنَقْلِهِ وَنَقْلِ مَالِهِ إلَى مَسْجِدٍ آخَرَ، وَقَدْ مَشَى الشَّيْخُ الْإِمَامُ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سِرَاجِ الدِّينِ الْحَانُوتِيُّ عَلَى الْقَوْلِ الْمُفْتَى بِهِ مِنْ عَدَمِ بِنَاءِ الْمَسْجِدِ، وَلَمْ يُوَافِقْ الْمَذْكُورِينَ. اهـ. (رد المحتار ص359 ج4)

2. It is not correct to throw away any of the Waqf items such as old vacuums, Quraan stands, etc. that are broken. If the broken items can be repaired and used, then this should be done. These items should then be used in the Masjid, even though they may be old. If the items cannot be repaired at all, but the parts are valuable, then the items must be put into storage and the parts used when required. Alternately, some member of the community or committee may purchase these items if storing it is a problem. The funds may then be used in Masjid projects as explained in #1. Again, the Mutawallis are authorized to decide in this matter. However, if the items are totally useless and hold no value whatsoever, then the Mutawallis may dispose of it.

وَإِذَا رَأَى حَشِيشَ الْمَسْجِدِ فَرَفَعَهُ إنْسَانٌ جَازَ إنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ قِيمَةٌ فَإِنْ كَانَ لَهُ أَدْنَى قِيمَةٍ لَا يَأْخُذُهُ إلَّا بَعْدَ الشِّرَاءِ مِنْ الْمُتَوَلِّي أَوْ الْقَاضِي أَوْ أَهْلِ الْمَسْجِدِ أَوْ الْإِمَامِ (البحر الرائق ص271 ج5)

Also check: Fataawa Mahmoodiyyah Pg.479 Vol.21

3. Since the Masjid is still in use, it will not be permissible to transfer the goods belonging to this Masjid to other Masaajid, particularly if the items can be used in the current Masjid at this stage or later. The goods should, therefore, remain for the use of the Masjid. However, if it is totally useless and will never be used, then it may be sold and the funds used in the Masjid.

اگر موجودہ مسجد باقاعدہ مسجد شرعی ہے تو جب تک وہ آباد رہے اس کے سامان کو منتقل کرنا اور کسی نئی پرانی مسجد خرچ کرنا درست نہیں (فتاوی محمودیہ ص۲۷۴ ج۲۱)

ALLAH TA’ALA KNOWS BEST!

ANSWERED BY:

Mufti Mohammed Desai

Date: 24 Jumadal Ukhra 1444 / 17 January 2023