Question
There are many items in the Musjid that are almost not used at all, or extremely rarely in use by the Musallees. These include, kitaabs, Tasbeeh, special Quraan stand(meant for people sitting on chairs) etc. These items were given to the Musjid, some by people whom we know and are alive, some may have passed away and some we don’t know at all. We have no idea of their intentions when giving these items to the Musjid. The donors in most cases, do not even have any idea of “Waqf” and what that word means. They probably just gave it ‘to get reward’.
Sometimes, someone requests for certain of these. They want to take it. And, sensible enough, it will make of very good use. At the Musjid, nobody at all or hardly ever uses them. An individual who wants it, and we know, will use it, will be conferring so much of reward to the donor which probably was his intention in the first place.
Is it permissible to give these items away completely?
Can these items be “lent” to someone responsible whom we know will return them after use? A Musallee got sick. He is at home. He wants to “borrow” the Quraan stand?
Answer
The movable items donated to the Masjid will fall under the category of ‘Waqf items’ as such items are commonly made Waqf to the Masajid.
منقولی اشیاء کے وقف کی تیسری صورت یہ ہے کے ان کے وقف کا عرف ہو کہ اس جکہ اور اس زمانہ میں لوک ان منقولی اشیاء کا وقف کرتے ہوں تو عرف کی وجہ سے یہ وقف درست ہوجائیگا ، مثلا قران کریم کا وقف ، جنازہ کی چارپائی کا وقف وغیرہ – اسلام کا نظام اوقاف ص۲۳۲
Although the donors may not be aware of the technical meaning of Waqf they too are donating their items to the Masjid in a manner whereby it enters the ownership of Allah Ta’aala and the servants derive benefit from such items. In essence, due to these items being considered as Waqf, neither can these items be sold or inherited or given as a gift, etc.وقال ابو يوسف ومحمد : هو عبارة عن حبس العين علي حكم ملك الله علي وجه تصل المنفعة الي العباد فيزول ملك الواقف عنه الي الله تعالٰي فيلزم ولا يباع ولا يرهن ولا يورث (مختصر القدوري ص515 حامش 1)
Now coming to your query, it is not permissible for one to utilize items belonging to the Masjid for one’s personal use. Yes, these items may be let out at a fee and the funds may then be utilized for the benefit of the Masjid, or if the items of the Masjid are of no benefit whatsoever, then if the donors can be traced – with their permission – and if they cannot be traced, then too, these items may be sold and the funds utilized for other needs of the Masjid.
In conclusion, items belonging to the Masjid cannot be loaned or given away completely. However, these items may be hired out for a fee as explained above, or sold if they are of no benefit whatsoever, and the money accrued in both cases can then be utilized for the needs of the Masjid.
Checked and Approved By:
Mufti Muhammed Saeed Motara Saheb D.B.
References
جو استعمالی چیز مسجد کی موقوفہ آمدنی سے خریدی گئی اسکو اہل محلہ بلا اجرت استعمال نہیں کرسکتے ) کتاب النوازل ص۴۴۸ ج۶(
ولايَحْمِلَ سِرَاجَ الْمَسْجِدِ إلَى بَيْتِهِ (الفتاوي الهنديه ص110 ج1 / البحر الرائق ص430 ج5)
وفي الْإِسْعَافِ وَلَيْسَ لِمُتَوَلِّي الْمَسْجِدِ أَنْ يَحْمِلَ سِرَاجَ الْمَسْجِدِ إلَى بَيْتِهِ (البحر الرائق ص420 ج5)
وَكَذَا لو اشْتَرَى حَشِيشًا أو قِنْدِيلًا للمسجد فَوَقَعَ الِاسْتِغْنَاءُ عنه كان ذلك له إنْ كان حَيًّا وَلِوَرَثَتِهِ إنْ كان مَيِّتًا وَعِنْدَ أبي يُوسُفَ يُبَاعُ ذلك وَيُصْرَفُ ثَمَنُهُ إلَى حَوَائِجِ الْمَسْجِدِ (البحر الرائق ص342 ج5)
غیر ضروری سامان بیچ کر مسجد کہ دیگر ضروریات پوری کرنا درست ہے – )کفایت المفتی ص۶۱ ج۷ / کتاب النوازل ص۴۵۷ ج۱۳(