Ruling on Transferring a Waqf Item from One Mosque to Another

Source: Ahkam-o-Masa'il in Light of the Qur’an and Hadith, Volume 02

❖ Question​

A man has donated a large copper container to a mosque for the purpose of making ablution (Wudu), which can hold water equivalent to ten pitchers. However, a water reservoir has now been built in that mosque, rendering the copper container completely useless. There is no longer any need to fill it with water as worshippers perform ablution from the reservoir. The container is now entirely unnecessary in that mosque. Meanwhile, a new mosque has been built in another village where such a container is needed for ablution.
Is it permissible to move this container to the new mosque?
Can an item donated to one mosque be used in another mosque?

❖ Answer​

When a waqf (endowed) item becomes useless or is at risk of being wasted, a solution should be sought to prevent its wastage and ensure it remains beneficial. This may include selling the item and spending the proceeds on the mosque for which it was endowed, or—if the item is needed in another mosque—transferring it to that mosque for use.

✿ Evidence from Hadith​

عن عائشة قالت سمعت رسول اللّٰه صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول:
«لو لا ان قومك حديثو عهد بجاهلية أو قال بكفر لا نفقت كنز الكعبة فى سبيل اللّٰه ولجعلت بابها بالأرض ولا دخلت فيها من الحجر»
(صحيح مسلم)

Translation of meaning: ʿĀ’ishah (RA) reported that she heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say:
“Had your people not been recently removed from ignorance (or disbelief), I would have spent the treasure of the Kaʿbah in the way of Allah, and I would have brought its door down to ground level and included the Hijr (semi-circular area) within it.”
(Sahih Muslim)

✔ Explanation​

The “treasure of the Kaʿbah” refers to the donations made by visitors of the sacred sanctuary. When the Prophet ﷺ observed that this treasure was exceeding the needs of the Kaʿbah, he intended to distribute it in the path of Allah. However, due to the specific reason mentioned in the Hadith, he refrained from doing so.

This Hadith establishes the principle that if a waqf item becomes redundant or is seen to be going to waste, one should adopt a course of action that ensures the item remains useful and beneficial.

(Reference: Muhaddith Dehlavi, Volume 08, Issue 4)

Conclusion​

It is permissible to transfer a waqf item from one mosque to another if the original mosque no longer needs it and the item risks becoming wasted. In such cases, the item can be put to use in another mosque where it fulfills a genuine need.