The ruling on a widow taking one-third of the value of her land to build a mosque or give it as charity

The questioner : Regarding the prohibition, she said she has a piece of land and stated that if the land is sold, she will give one-third of the value that comes from it to the Haram. She went to the officials there, and they refused to accept it.

The Shaykh : Yes. Is she giving it as charity?

The questioner : She is donating to a mosque outside Makkah, and it is known that she is a widow and in need of the money, or she takes it for herself, or she gives it to the poor, and she is a widow with no one to support her.

The Shaykh : And her intention, I said, my father, I will leave it in the Haram, that you build a mosque there.

The questioner : What is her intention?

The Shaykh : That you are building a mosque in Makkah.

The questioner : Her intention is that it is for the Haram, not that she is building a mosque in Makkah.

The Shaykh : Is the mosque in the Haram itself? In the Haram itself? And the officials said, “We do not want this.” In any case, if she wishes, she can give it to the poor of the Haram, and if she wishes, she can build a mosque there in Makkah, participating in the construction of her mosque.

The questioner : And she is unable to take it because she is a widow. Is she entitled to this?

The Shaykh : She is entitled to take it as long as she has not designated it.