AN APPEAL

Dear Brothers & Sisters.

I take the pleasure informing that we have started “WAQAF BACHO ANDOLAN.” from Hyderabad and by the grace of Almighty Allah (SWT) we have restored a number of Mosque, grave-yards, lands from land-grabbers in the state of Telangana and wishes to seek the collective co-operation of the Muslim community all over the country by protesting & demanding protection of WAQAF properties all over the country.

In this connection we need collective support from every state, by forming groups, committees activists working for the welfare of Ummah, by launching Dharna’s, Silent march and presenting Memorandum to the Chief Ministers & Minorities Ministers all over the country, as we think that by doing so we can protect our land and develop it for the benefits of Ummah.

ORIGIN OF FAMILY WAQF------Even though, Allah (s.w.t) does not specify the term waqf in the Holy Qur’an, there are some verses on matters regarding charity which carry the essence of waqf as stated in the following Qur’anic verse: لَنْ تَنَالُوا الْبِرَّ حَتَّى تُنْفِقُوا مِمَّا تُحِبُّونَ وَمَا تُنْفِقُوا مِنْ شَيْءٍ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ بِهِ عَلِيمٌ By no means shall ye attain righteousness unless ye give (freely) of that which ye love; and whatever ye give, of a truth God knoweth it well. (Surat Al-‘Imran, 3:92) Abu Talha had interpreted this Qur’anic verse. ‘Obid Allah, one of the companions of the Prophet (pbuh), who endowed his most lovely garden called Bi’ruha’, full of date-palm trees which was in front of the mosque of the Prophet (pbuh).  The Prophet (pbuh) used to go there and drink from its nice water.  So when this verse was revealed, Abu Talha said to the Prophet (pbuh): Allah’s Messenger! Allah, the Blessed, the Superior says: By no means shall you attain Al-Birr (righteousness, piety etc, it means here Allah’s Reward i.e. Paradise), unless you spend (in Allah’s Cause) of that which you love.  And no doubt, Bi’ruha’ garden is the most beloved of all my property to me.  So I want to give it in charity in Allah’s Cause. I expect its reward from Allah. O Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) Spend it where Allah makes you think it feasible.’  On that the Prophet (pbuh) said, ‘ Bikh (good) it is useful property.  I have heard what you have said, O Abu Talha, and I think it would be proper if you give it to your kith and kin’.  Abu Talha said, ‘ I will do so, O Allah’s Messenger’.  Then Abu Talha distributed that garden amongst his relatives and his cousins.   

The creation of family waqf has been encouraged by the Prophet (pbuh) in many Hadith.  For example the following Hadith does not only highlight the creation of family waqf it also show its law and its management: Narrated ibn ‘Umar  (pbuh): In the lifetime of Allah’s Messenger (pbuh), ‘Umar gave in charity some of his property, a garden of date palms called Thamgh. ‘Umar, said, “O Allah’s Messenger! I have some property which I prize highly and I want to give it in charity.”  The Prophet (pbuh) said, “Give it in charity (i.e. as an endowment) with its land and trees on the condition that the land and trees will neither be sold nor given as a present, not bequeathed, but the fruits are to be spent in charity.”  So ‘Umar gave it in charity, and it was for Allah’s Cause, the emancipation of slaves, for the poor, for guests, for travelers, and for kinsmen.  The person acting as its administrator could eat from it reasonably and fairly, and could let a friend of his eat from it provided he did not intend to become wealthy by its means.  The above hadith illustrate many sets of law.  In the first instance, once the property becomes a waqf it must not be sold, inherited, or given away as a gift.  Second, it is up to the founder to specify any person or any institution he feels need it more, i.e. either to the public or to his family.  In this case, Caliph ‘Umar devoted it to both public and family.  Third, the administration of the waqf is also clarified since the founder, he himself administers his own waqf and at the same time he can benefit from it in a reasonable manner as long as he lives. Similar examples has been realized from the creation of the companions of the Prophet (pbuh) as has been documented by Al-Humaidi, shaykh of al-Bukhari, who gave the names of the companions, their endowments and their beneficiaries.  He stated that Caliph Abu Bakr endowed his house to his children, ‘Omar b. al-Khatab endowed his land at Thamgh to his children, Sa‘d ibn Abu Waqqas his house in Madinah and Egypt for his children, and al-Zubair ibn al-‘Awwam his houses in Makkah and Egypt and his money in Madinah for his children, ‘Omar b. al-‘As his house in Makkah for his children, and Hakim b. Hizam his houses in Makkah and Madinah to his children.   Moreover, most of the wives of the Prophet (pbuh) had created family waqf, for example, ‘Aisha, Umm Salamah, Umm Habibah, Safiah and Hafsah created their own waqf for the benefit of their kin.  All these are good examples that indicate the creation of family waqf since the time of Prophet (pbuh).  

We firmly believe that by our work of restoring back OUR WAQAF properties from Government, and land-grabbers we can develop it with co-operation of waqaf Development Corporation & Waqaf Boards so that the deprived and depressed ummah could survive.

WE Hope and have faith in Allah that by our collective efforts we may better our Economic conditions.

We would like to co-operate with US by JOINGING OUR WAQAF BACHO ANDOLAN

Yours Truly

Mehboob Hussain Aazad (Social Activist& Journalist)

mail your quires on mhussainazad60@gmail.com