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Faiths & Beliefs | Jan 23, 2026 | 1 min read

Is Exchanging Masjid Waqf Land Permissible?

Question

Is exchanging small Masjid waqf boundary land for road-facing land, without affecting Masjid use, permissible in Shariah?

Islamic Ruling & Answer

Verified

Masjid waqf land cannot be sold or exchanged once it is dedicated to Allah.

«المسجد إذا وقف لا يجوز بيعه ولا استبداله»

“When a Masjid is endowed, it is not permissible to sell or exchange it.”

 Badā’iʿ al-Ṣanā’iʿ 6/224

Exception:

If the land becomes completely unusable, exchange is allowed only with Shar‘i permission.

«إذا خرب الوقف جاز الاستبدال بإذن القاضي»

“If a waqf becomes unusable, exchange is permitted with the judge’s approval.”

 Radd al-Muḥtār 6/457

ONLY ALLAH KNOWS BEST

Answered by

Mufti Tosif Qasmi

January 23, 2026