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

“An endowment has a trustee with lawful authority over it. Someone at the endowment acts without the trustee’s authorization, relying instead on authorization from one of the judges on the grounds that the judge has general supervisory authority. The trustee dismissed this administrator, but he continued to perform his duties after his dismissal. The judge asked the trustee to prevent this man from continuing his duties, then brought a claim against the trustee, which the latter denied. May the judge make an appointment without the lawful trustee’s authorization? May he himself adjudicate between himself and this trustee, who is his adversary, rather than another judge? If he wrongs the trustee, what punishment does he deserve for doing so?”

He answered:

“The judge may neither make appointments nor administer the endowment without authorization from the lawful trustee specifically responsible for it, unless that trustee has exceeded the proper bounds in his actions. The judge may intervene if the trustee departs from his obligations.

“If a dispute arises between the trustee and the judge, someone other than either of them must adjudicate between them according to the judgment of Allah and His Messenger. Whoever wrongs another must be held accountable for his wrongdoing: he is to be punished in kind if an equivalent punishment is possible; otherwise, he is to be punished in whatever manner is possible under Islamic law. Allah knows best.”