Dalīl al-Ṭālib - Marʿi al-Karmi - (187)

That he not introduce any clause that defeats the nature of the waqf, such as saying, “I dedicate this property on condition that I may sell it or give it away whenever I please,” or reserving for himself the option to revoke it, or stipulating that he may transfer it from one beneficiary to another.1
That he dedicate it in perpetuity. Hence it is invalid to declare, “I have endowed it2 for one month,” or “for a year,”3 or anything similar.

Designating a specific beneficiary is not mandatory. If he merely says, “I have endowed this property,” and says no more, the waqf is valid and passes to his blood heirs in proportion to their legal shares of inheritance.4

Section

The waqf becomes binding as soon as it is pronounced, and ownership passes to the beneficiary, who—or whose guardian—manages it, unless the founder appoints a supervisor,5 in which case that person is solely responsible. The proceeds must forthwith be directed to the purpose for which the waqf was established,6 unless the founder has excepted its benefit or yield for himself, his child, or his friend for the duration of his life or for a fixed period; that exception is then observed.

If the designated purpose ceases to exist while the founder is still alive, the endowment reverts to him, remaining a waqf.

(1) In manuscripts N and J the wording is “la yushrat” (is not stipulated). (2) Manuscript A reads “waqfahu” (his endowment), whereas N has “al-waqfiyya” (the deed of endowment). (3) In manuscript N the particle “aw” (or) replaces the conjunction “wa” (and). (4) Manuscript N adds the word “minhu” (from it). (5) Manuscript M reads “yushtarat” (it is stipulated). (6) Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyya rules that the stipulation fixed by a waqf donor may be modified to whatever is more beneficial, even if this varies with time; thus, if the endowment was designated for jurists and Sufis but the community later needs funds for jihad, it may be redirected to the army. See: Nayl al-Maarib, 2/15.

السادس: أن لا يشترط١ فيه ما ينافيه كقوله: وقفت كذا على أن أبيعه أو أهبه متى شئت أو بشرط الخيار لي أو بشرط أن أحوله من جهة إلى جهة. السابع: أن يقفه على التأبيد. فلا يصح: وقفته٢ شهرا أو إلى سنة و٣نحوها. ولا يشرط تعيين الجهة فلو قال: وقفت كذا وسكت صح وكان لورثته من النسب على قدر إرثهم٤. فصل ويلزم الوقف بمجرده ويملكه الموقوف عليه فينظر فيه هو أو وليه ما لم يشرط٥ الواقف ناظرا فيتعين ويتعين صرفه إلى الجهة التي وقف عليها في الحال٦ ما لم يستثن الواقف منفعته أو غلته له أو لولده أو لصديقه مدة حياته أو مدة معلومة فيعمل بذلك. وحيث انقطعت الجهة والواقف حي رجع إليه وقفا.

١ في "ن" و "ج" "لا يشرط". ٢ في "أ" "وقفه". وفي "ن" "الوقفية". ٣ في "ن" "أو" بدل الواو. ٤ في "ن" زيادة "منه". ٥ في "م" "يشترط". ٦ قال شيخ الإسلام: يصح تغيير شرط الواقف إلى ما هو أصلح منه وأن اختلف باختلاف الأزمان حتى لو وقف على الفقهاء والصوفية واحتاج إلى الجهاد يصرف للجند. نيل المآرب"٢/١٥".