Charging fees for Masjid parking area

13-12-2013 | IslamWeb

Question:

Assalammu Allaikum, can people muslims & few non muslims who come for busniess to our town from other towns park their vehicles in the masjid parking area, have the board of trustees of the masjid have the right to allow the parking of the vehicles free of charge or charge a parking fee, because the people using the parking for their personal gain and the masjid does not benefit. Also can a area around the masjid be used for personal purpose.

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

If the land that surrounds the Masjid is an endowment (Waqf) that is dedicate for the benefit of the Masjid users to park their cars and the like, then others who do not want to enter the Masjid and are not from the Masjid's people are not permitted to benefit from it, and the person in charge of the endowment is entitled to prevent them from that if he can do so.

However, if the administrator of the endowment sees a benefit in taking fees for parking in the Masjid parking area from those who do not wish to enter the Masjid, because of the Masjid's need of funds, then this is acceptable. Shaykh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah said: “It is permissible to change the terms laid out by the donator of the Waqf for the greater interest, even if this differs from time to time…”

Allaah Knows best.