The Importance of Waqf (Endowment) and the Reasons for Its Decline
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner:
Abu 'Abdullah says: I hope the Shaykh will speak about the importance of waqf (endowment) for books and libraries, and what are the things that are endowed, may Allah preserve you?
The Shaykh:
Waqf (endowment) is recommended (mustahabb) for a person to endow from his wealth that which continues to bring him reward after his death. This is the ongoing charity (sadaqah jariyah) about which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:. And there was no one among the Companions who had wealth except that he endowed it, because they were eager for good and for drawing near to Allah. Waqf (endowment) is recommended (mustahabb) for one who has abundance in wealth, and that he endow that which has continuous benefit. This is, this is the waqf (endowment).
The presenter:
Yes
The questioner:
He says: O Shaykh, what are the reasons for the decline of waqf (endowment) in our present time?
The Shaykh:
We say: We do not see attention being paid to it. And what is the obligation in the Shaykh’s view? Waqf (endowment) is not obligatory (wajib). So whoever wants to endow, it is for him and he has the reward. And whoever does not want to endow, he owes nothing. And people’s circumstances differ.
The presenter:
Yes, may Allah reward you and bless you.
Abu 'Abdullah says: I hope the Shaykh will speak about the importance of waqf (endowment) for books and libraries, and what are the things that are endowed, may Allah preserve you?
The Shaykh:
Waqf (endowment) is recommended (mustahabb) for a person to endow from his wealth that which continues to bring him reward after his death. This is the ongoing charity (sadaqah jariyah) about which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
When the son of Adam dies, his deeds are cut off except for three: ongoing charity, or knowledge from which benefit is derived, or a righteous child who prays for him.
إذا مات ابن آدم انقطع عمله من ثلاث صدقة جارية أو علم ينتفع، أو رزق أو ولد صالح يدعو لهThe presenter:
Yes
The questioner:
He says: O Shaykh, what are the reasons for the decline of waqf (endowment) in our present time?
The Shaykh:
We say: We do not see attention being paid to it. And what is the obligation in the Shaykh’s view? Waqf (endowment) is not obligatory (wajib). So whoever wants to endow, it is for him and he has the reward. And whoever does not want to endow, he owes nothing. And people’s circumstances differ.
The presenter:
Yes, may Allah reward you and bless you.
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، نور على الدرب 260 من المجموعة الثالثة للشيخ صالح الفوزان — youtube.com (5:30)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.