THE 116TH SERMON DELIVERED
AT AREA 10 JUMA’AH MASJID ABUJA, BY IMAM YAHYA GARBA AL-YOLAWI, ON 21TH APRIL
2017/ 24TH RAJAB 1438 AFTER HIJRA
TOPIC:SIGNIFICANCE
OF ENDOWMENT “WAQF” IN ISLAM
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious the
Most Merciful
Since the beginning of
Islam, awqaf or religious endowments have been the medium through which various
public services (libraries, schools, guest in, hospitals, and mosques) have
been provided to communities throughout Islamic history. As Muslims we need to put
keeninterest in waqf, particularly if we want to revive act of selflessservices
and religious institutions which promote Islamic socio-economic sustainability
among the muslimummah.
DEFINITION OF WAQF:
The term waqf
“endowment”simply means to retain, to preserve a voluntary but permanent and irrevocablededication
of a portion of one’s wealth – in cash or kind- to Allah SWT. In another word
waqf (endowment) means detention of a building, plots of land or property with no intention of reclaiming it
again and its produce or income may always be available for religious or
charitable purposes. When a waqf is created, the property is detained or, is
‘tied up’ forever and
thereafter becomes non-transferable to any other person.The
moment waqf, is done it never be given as a gift, inheritance, or sold. It belongs to Allah and the property of the
waqf remains intact while, it products, income generated from
the property is use for,
services,maintenance or funding sustainable community and social development projects
orprograms in line with the intention and pronunciation of the donor.
ORIGINS OF WAQF:
Allah (SWT) says: “Never
will you attain the good [reward] until you spend [in the way of Allah ] from
that which you love. And whatever you spend - indeed, Allah is knowing of it”.3.92“Ibn
‘Umar reported: “Umar acquired land in
Khaibar. He came to Allah’s Apostle
(saw) and sought his advice in regard to it.
He said: “Allah’s Messenger, I
have acquired land in Khaibar. I have
never acquired more valuable for me than this, so what do you command I do with
it? Thereupon the Prophet (saw) said: If you like, you may keep the property intact
and give its produce as Sadaqah. So’Umar
(RA) gave it as Sadaqah declaring that the property must not be sold or
inherited or given away as a gift. And
‘Umar devoted it to the poor, to the nearest of kin, to the emancipation of
slaves, to wayfarers/guests, and in the way of ALLAH” - Muslim. Some of the
vereses encourage to spending for Allah’s sake include:
1.
Leaving
behind a good legacy is highly encouraged in Islam: Allah says “
Indeed, it is We who
bring the dead to life and record what they have put forth and what they left
behind, and all things We have enumerated in a clear register”. Q36:12
2. Man will wish to have more good deeds at time
of Death.
3. Allah says” And spend [in the way of Allah ]
from what We have provided you before death approaches one of you and he says,
"My Lord, if only You would delay me for a brief term so I would give
charity and be among the righteous." But never will Allah delay a soul
when its time has come. And Allah is acquainted with what you do. Q63: 10-
4. Giving to others is a big transaction between
you and Allah (SWT).
“…So recite what is easy from it and establish
prayer and give zakah and loan Allah a goodly loan. And whatever good you put
forward for yourselves - you will find it with Allah . It is better and greater
in reward. And seek forgiveness of Allah. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and
Merciful”. Q 76:20
5. When a man dies, all his good deeds come to an
end except for three:
The prophet (SAW) was
reported to have said: “When a man dies, all his good deeds come to an end
except for three: ongoing charity (sadaqatulJaariyah), beneficial knowledge,
and a righteous son who prays for him”.
an-Nasa’i
SOME WAYS TO EARN REWARD AFTER DEATH
Some of the ways to
earn reward even after death include:
1.
SADAQATUL JARIYAH
(ONGOING CHARITY)
Sadaqahjariyah
(ongoing charity) refers to any righteous deed of a person that continues after
death and the reward is added to the person’s book of good deeds as long as
that deed is benefited from. Some forms of ongoing charity are:
a-
Digging up a well or
setting up water borehole at different places for travellers and wayfarers.
b-
Building an Islamic
centre, orpharnage, charitable organisation or building a mosque or
contributing to it by providing prayer mats, gen. donations, furniture, or
other facilities. “If anyone builds a mosque, Allah would build for him a
similar place in Paradise.” (Bukhari)
c-
Distributing copies of the Quran and other
Islamic literature, or placing it somewhere that people can benefit from.
Contribute to the publication of books, articles, and pamphlets that aim to
propagate Islamic knowledge by writing, translating, designing, editing, and
funding.
d-
To sponsor or give
scholarship or any financial assistance to a young Islamic student to further
his Islamic studies and benefit Ummah.
THREE COMPONENTS OF WAKF: THE ENDOWER, THE ENDOWMENT (WAQF), AND THE BENEFICIARY.
The endower:waqif
The endower must confirm his/her decision to grant an endowment
and designate its beneficiary either verbally or in writing. One can also have
a tangible evidence on his/her endowments such as a built mosque or cemetery.
Endowment must be granted with full determination and as a final
decision; in other words, a promissory and conditional endowments are not
accepted. Further, endowment is irrevocable and for an unlimited time. Most
scholars agree that endowment cannot be valid for a limited period.
Endower's qualifications:
The endower must be an adult with free will. His/her decision to
grant an endowment must be a personal one. i.e. is not imposed on him/her by
anyone.
Endowment:waqf
Endowment funds or assets must be in compliance with Shariah.
For instance, wine cannot be considered an endowment.
Endowment can be either in cash or in kind such as
estates and stocks. Since an endowment is a continuous
charity (SadaqahJariah), it must be permanent and non-perishable. Therefore,
food cannot be endowed. Moreover, the endowment can be a part of an undivided
joint estate granted its percentage is known (such as 25% of the estate).
Endower has the right to increase his waqf with time by additional funds or in
kind.
Beneficiary's requirements:
The beneficiary can be an individual(s) or an institution(s)
which is awarded the income generated from investing the waqf. Waqf must
also be designated to Shari'a compliant deeds or people such as printing the
Holy Quran, or helping the needy, the poor, the relatives...
CATEGORIES OF WAQF FROM
THE PERSPECTIVE OF ITS OUTPUT NATURE:
Waqfistithmari: the
waqf assets are intended for investment. Such assets are managed to produce
income that will be used in constructing and reconstructing waqf properties.
Waqfmubashar: the waqf
assets are used to generate services to the benefit of some charity recipients
or other beneficiaries. Examples of such assets include schools, mosques,
utilities.
EXAMPLE OF WAQF SERVICES AND FACILITIES
The Haram of Ka’bah in
Makkah was the first Waqf (Surah Al-Imraan, verse 96). Masjid Quba and Masjid
An-Nabaweeh in Medinah were the first Waqf properties established by Prophet
Muhammad (SAW). Since then, titles to religious properties, including mosques,
Islamic centers, and schools are held by a Waqf (Islamic trust) institution.
Waqf properties and their value become restricted on a continuous basis, to
serve the Islamic objectives prescribed at inception by their founders for the
benefit of the general Ummah.
Examples of waqf are
so many in the life time of companions of the prophet, tabiun and those who
come after them throughout islamic history.
1.Umar R.A 2. Uthman,
Khalid bnwaleed etc.
To give example from
our contemporaries we have:
Late: AlhajiSallau Muhammad Gidado may
Allah (SWT) for give him and accept his good deeds who happen to build over 30 mosques
and Islamiyaaschools across four
northern state in his life he died in the year 2012.
And now Alh.Ahmmaduchanchangi
Lessons
fromthe Lifestyle Of AlhajiAhmaduChanchangi For Us especially The Rich Among
Us.
Some
of his legacies and contribution
includes:
1.
suponsoringtafsir at sultan Bello mosque
for 30 years
2.
Sponsoring to air shekh Mahmud gumi’sTafsir for over 3 decades.
3.
Building of Mahmudu Gumi’s College.
3.
Purchasing and Giving out of plots for free at kin kinaukaduna state.
4.
Sponsoring thousands of orphans’ education and their basic needs for over 30
years
5.
Carrying so many people to perform hajj
and umrah almost every year.
6.
Distributing of trucks (trailers) carrying
food items (rice, millet, maisesugeretc) to the people at every Ramadan
to mention but few.
NB.I will seize this opportunity on behalf of the
mosque committee and Area 10 muslim community, to condole with the family and
the entire Muslim ummah most especially the people of Kaduna and Taraba state
on the loss ofAlh. Ahmaduchanchangi.May Allah (SWT) forgive his short comings
accept all his contributions to islam and grant him jannatulfirdaus. AMEEN
Contact: yahyalyolawi@gmail.com
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