Question
Vegetable seeds were donated to the Madrasah. These were planted, and Alhamdulillah grew well. Once the vegetables or greens are ripe or fully grown, they have to be used quickly to avoid getting rotten. The growth is in excess of the student’s needs. What should be done with the remaining, as it was given to be used for the Madasah? We could sell it, but it be a cause of difficulty for the Madrasah to begin selling greens and vegetables to the public. Added to that, if it is not sold quickly, it will rot. Could it be given out for free? What other practical solutions could be implemented with regards to the remaining excess, as this will Insha Allah be a long term situation?
Answer
The interests of the donator should be given priority as far as possible. These vegetables are meant to be a donation to the Madrasah, and should be used in that avenue only (as long as the Madrasah can get benefit from this, it cannot be used in another avenue). This can be done directly or
indirectly (by generating income by selling them).
Due to the circumstances mentioned by you, we see no need to sell it directly to the public nor give it out for free. Rather, what can be done is that
you sell these vegetables and fresh produce to a wholesaler who is ready to buy it for a reasonable price. The money received from these sales can be used by the Madrasah in other avenues as this will serve the interests of both, the donator and the Madrasah.
Checked and Approved By:
Mufti Muhammed Saeed Motara Saheb D.B.
References
(يجب) وظاهر الآية أنه فرض نهر ج ٦ ٥ وقف شجرة ينتفغ بأوراقها أو بثمارها أو بأصلها فالوفف جائز إذا جاز لا يقطع أصلها إلا إذا كان لا ينتفغ بأصلها بأن فسدت أغصانها أو كانت في الأصل لا ينتفغ إلا بأصلها فيقطعها أيضا ويتصدق، وإذا كان ينتفغ بثمارها أو بأوراقها لا تقطغ، كذا في المضمرات وكذلك لو وقف شجرة بأصلها على مسجد فيبست أو يبس بغضها يقطغ اليابسن ويترك الباقي، كذا في محيط السرخسي
(الفتاوى الهندية ص ٣٧٥/ ج ٢)
و انظر ايضا المحيط البرهانيص ١٤٨/ج٩