Ruling on Waqf Assets That Are Left Unused and Without Benefit

❖ Waqf Property from Which No Benefit Is Taken
By: ʿImrān Ayyūb Lāhorī

Waqf Assets That Remain Unused Are Like Hoarded Wealth​

Allāh says:


﴿وَالَّذِينَ يَكْنِزُونَ الذَّهَبَ وَالْفِضَّةَ وَلَا يُنفِقُونَهَا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَبَشِّرْهُم بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ ‎۝٣٤ يَوْمَ يُحْمَىٰ عَلَيْهَا فِي نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ فَتُكْوَىٰ بِهَا جِبَاهُهُمْ وَجُنُوبُهُمْ وَظُهُورُهُمْ ۖ هَٰذَا مَا كَنَزْتُمْ لِأَنفُسِكُمْ فَذُوقُوا مَا كُنتُمْ تَكْنِزُونَ﴾
(at-Tawbah: 34–35)
“Those who hoard gold and silver and do not spend it in the way of Allāh — give them tidings of a painful punishment. On the Day when it will be heated in the fire of Hell and their foreheads, sides, and backs will be branded with it: ‘This is what you hoarded for yourselves, so taste what you used to hoard.’”

Important Clarification​

• If the waqf wealth in mosques is for necessary purposes — such as essential items, teaching of knowledge, Qurʾān recitation, and requirements of ṣalāh — then it is a source of reward.
  In such cases, it is not permissible for any Muslim to take from it for personal use.
• If the waqf wealth is merely for decoration and beautification, then it must be redirected to fulfill the needs and benefits of Muslims — for two main reasons:
  
  ① Hoarding wealth without beneficial use is a munkar (forbidden act), and it is necessary to prevent it, as the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ commanded.
  
  ② Wasting wealth is prohibited in Islam.

Reference: al-Rawḍah al-Nadiyyah: 2/339–340