Saturday, 18 April 2026 (1 Dhuʻl-Qiʻdah 1447 AH)
Question: In a waqf inherited for the recitation of the Book of Allah Most High, are females given from it, given that the custom has been not to give them—because in most cases they are not Qurʾān reciters? What do you say? And if some of them recite well, do they receive from it?
Answer: If the founder endowed something for reciting the Book of Allah upon his heirs or others, then if his intention is known, one proceeds accordingly; if his intention is unknown, then according to what is predominant in customary practice. If the custom in such a waqf is that it is only for men, not women, then they have no share of it—even if they recite well. If there is no recognized custom in the matter, then the general wording includes both male and female—among those proficient in recitation of the Qurʾān.
As for the permissibility of giving them for recitation of the Qurʾān: it is permissible, since the testator’s intent is recitation to his soul. If it is known that his intent was for males and not females, then they are not to be given.
In sum: Wills and endowments are to be carried according to the known intention of the testator and founder. If the intention is not known, the wording of the founder and testator is carried to what is known of it in the founder’s and testator’s local usage; then to the local linguistic usage; then to the general usage of the language; then to the root sense of the language.
Source: Min Thimār al-ʿIlm wa al-Ḥikmah vol.2