Purchasing land with contributor’s funds for a Musallah

Question:-

We collected funds from donors for a Musallah, Madrasah and Imaam’s quarters. Can the land now be sold if it is no longer required, as a new Masjid is being erected in close vicinity to the purchased land.

Answer:-

In the queried scenario, a number of people had donated funds towards the purchasing of the land. The land was obviously purchased with the intention of erecting a Musallah, Madrasah and quarters for both the Imaam and the Muazzin.

However, after concluding the purchase of the land, it was not made Waqf for the abovementioned objectives; rather it was a mere intention of all the donors to erect a Masjid, Madrasah and Imaam’s residence on the said land.

Therefore, in the above scenario, the land can be sold and the funds donated towards any other institute, or the actual land can even be donated to the Masjid with the proviso that all the donors are unanimous on the decision.

جو  عمارت چندہ کرکے بنائی گئی ہو یا خریدی گئی وہ ابھی وقف نہیں ہوئی جبتک اسکو وقف نہ کردیا جائے —– فتاوی محمودیہ ص۷۰ج۲۱

However, if after purchasing the land, the procedure of Waqf was completed either by completing a Waqf deed, or by verbally stating that the land has been made Waqf, then the land cannot be sold, nor can it donated to any other institute. In this case, the land should be used for the stipulated objectives.

وقف  صحیح ہونے کے لئے رجسٹری ہونا شرط نہیں ، زبانی وقف بھی درست اور کافی ہوتا ہے     فتاوی محمودیہ ص۴۸ج۲۱

أو بقوله وقفتها في حياتي وبعد وفاتي مؤبدا فإنه جائز عندهم (شامي ص343 ج4)

ALLAH TA’ALA KNOWS BEST!

ANSWERED BY:

Mufti Mohammed Desai

Date: 03 Jumadal Ukhra 1443 / 06 January 2022