His statement, “and its materials,” means the materials of the mosque: its structure, doors, and the like. This applied in the past, when buildings were made of mud bricks, so that the materials from which they were constructed—namely, mud bricks—could be reused. Nowadays, however, I do not think the materials can be recovered, except perhaps iron bars, which can be reused; as for cement, it cannot. In any case, if any of its materials remain, we reuse them in what we intend to build.

If the person selling the mosque says, “If we dismantle its materials now and use them to build the other mosque, it will turn out weak,” may we sell the materials and purchase new, stronger ones?

The answer is: yes. The second materials then take the place of the first, and the right of the endower is not lost.

His statement, “Whatever exceeds its need may be allocated to another mosque,” means that whatever remains beyond the needs of the mosque may be allocated to another mosque, because this is closer to the intention of the endower. There is no difficulty in this.

Thus, if we suppose that, when this mosque was demolished because its benefits had ceased and it was rebuilt, some of its materials remained, we allocate them to another mosque. If that is not possible, they are allocated to a public cause from which Muslims generally benefit, such as a water-supply facility, a school, and the like.

His statement, “and it may be given in charity to the poor among the Muslims,” means that it may be given in charity to the poor among the Muslims, because a mosque serves a public benefit, and charity given to the poor is likewise a public benefit. Thus, we have not departed from