Saturday, 18 April 2026 (1 Dhuʻl-Qiʻdah 1447 AH)
Question: The contributors to the mosques’ funds in some localities complained to the ministry about the abundance of agricultural levies and requested relief regarding what they are required to deliver to the mosques. The ministry decided that the farmers must deliver to the mosques only one-eighth of the yields; previously they had been obligated to deliver one-fifth. Then after some time, some of the contributors became doubtful and resolved to deliver the one-fifth as before. Is this man who is doubtful required to pay the mosque the difference between the one-fifth and the one-eighth for the past twenty years, or is it sufficient for him to deliver the one-fifth from now on, with no blame upon him for what has passed? And peace.
Answer—and Allah is the One who grants success and assistance: What the ministry decided—if it was for the sake of the waqf’s and the mosques’ interests—then nothing is due from the questioner in respect of the shortfall for what has passed, and the mosque is to be reckoned from now on by the one-fifth.
But if what the ministry decided—namely, delivery of only one-eighth—was without consideration of the interests of the waqf and the mosques, then what the farmer took in shortfall over the past twenty years must be returned, and the ministry’s decision is unjustified.
The proof that the ministry’s decision is unjustified and does not permit the farmers to consume what was remitted to them is His saying, Most High: “And do not consume one another’s wealth unjustly, nor deliberately bribe the authorities so that you may devour a portion of other people’s wealth sinfully while you know.” [Al-Baqarah:188]. For Allah, Mighty and Majestic, did not make in this verse the judge’s ruling a justification or a permissibility for consuming what they ruled. And in the ḥadīth: “It may be that one of you is more eloquent in his plea than another … up to his saying: so I allot for him a portion from the Fire (of Hell).” (or as he (May Allah bless him and his family and grant them peace) said).
Accordingly, the ministry’s decision—or a judge’s ruling—is not a justification for a Muslim to consume what he has no right to.
However, if the ministry’s decision arose from consideration of the waqf’s interest, the mosques’ interest, and the contributor’s interest, then there is no blame upon the contributor with respect to what he took because of that decision.
Source: Min Thimār al-ʿIlm wa al-Ḥikmah vol.2