Resolution No. (273)(6/2019), By The Board of Iftaa', Researches and Islamic Studies:
"Ruling on Funds Donated to the Educational Endowment"
Date: (30/ Jumādā al-Akhira/1440 AH), corresponding to (7/3/2019)
All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds.
During its third session held on the above date, the Board reviewed the letter (No.2/3/2019 AH) sent to the Iftaa` Department from the counsellor of the Educational Endowment. In that letter, he pointed that the Endowment receives both in kind and cash donations, adding that some people stipulate that their donations be spent on maintaining schools while others on laboratories, desks, and other equipment. It is worth pointing that the main objective of the Endowment is building schools in favor of the Ministry of Education. What is the ruling of Sharia on this?
After deliberating, the Board arrived at the following decision:
Funds donated without defining the channel they should be spent in favor of are, in principle, endowed funds, because, basically, what is donated to an officially registered endowment must be spent in favor of the purpose for which it was established in the first place. Therefore, it is permissible that you accept and spend these donations in accordance with the rules of the endowment. This is along with ensuring schools` adherence to these rules and keeping them (schools) under constant supervision.
As for the funds for which the donor specifies a certain channel, they are to be spent as he stipulated, be that for maintenance, furniture, tools and the like. This is because the Sharia rule, in this regard, states: "The conditions set by the endower (Waqif) are as binding as the provisions of Sharia."
As for the wages of maintenance workers and consumed materials, it isn`t permissible to spend the money of the endowment on these alone. Rather, the endowment can allocate a fund for public charities and donations where it informs donors, upon making the donations, about the purpose for which that fund is established. This is in order for them (donors) to understand the difference between endowment and charity in general. Upon achieving that, there is no harm in spending the funds of public charity in favor of the various forms of maintenance. And Allah the Almighty Knows Best.
Chairperson of Iftaa` Board,
Grand Mufti of Jordan,
Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalayleh
Sheikh Abdulkareem AlKhasawneh/ Member
Sheikh Sa`eid Al-Hijjawi/ Member
Prof. Abdullah Al-Fawaaz/ Member.
Dr. Muhammad Khair Al-Issa/ Member
Dr. Majid Al-Darawsheh/ Member
Prof. Adam Noah/ Member {have a reservation on the fourth standard}.
Judge. Khaled Al-Worikat/ Member
Dr. Ahmad Al-Hasanat/ Member
Dr. Mohammad Al-Zou`bi/ Member
Dr. Rashaad Al-Kilani/Member