He—may Allah have mercy on him—was asked:

What is the ruling concerning someone who makes a bequest or establishes an endowment for his neighbours?

He answered:

If the intention of the endowment founder or the person making the bequest cannot be established through wording or customary usage, and he has no customary understanding of who counts as a neighbour, then reference should be made to the meaning established in Islamic law: forty houses in every direction. This is based on the report that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

“Neighbours extend forty houses in this direction and that. By Him in Whose Hand is my soul, no one whose neighbour is not safe from his harm will enter Paradise.”

And Allah knows best.

He was also asked:

A man who oversees boats built a mosque and allocated to its imam, from his own resources, a month’s hire from all the boats. Is this lawful or unlawful? And is it permissible to pray in the mosque or not?

He answered:

If he pays these dirhams from the hire of boats that belong to him, it is permissible to accept them. But if he pays them from money he takes from people without right, it is not permissible. And Allah knows best.