Removing duplicate books from a mosque library

A question on moving surplus duplicate copies from a mosque library to other libraries, in which Jordan's General Iftaa Department answered that the ruling depends on how each book reached the library, and that the decision rests with the Ministry of Awqaf. ¹

The questioner said a mosque library has filled with surplus duplicate copies that take up space, which arrived either by purchase from donations, as gifts from authors, or as endowments, and asked whether they may be moved to other libraries. ¹

The Department answered that what is endowed to a specific mosque should in principle stay there and may not be moved or sold without a lawful reason; if it wears out, or a replacement has been brought and it cannot be used in the mosque, it may be moved to another mosque to fulfil the endowment's purpose, quoting al-Nawawi's Rawdat al-Talibin and I'anat al-Talibin. ¹ What was bought from donations and not endowed by the administrator, or given by authors without stating it is an endowment, may be sold or disposed of when needed, with the proceeds spent on the library, since it is the mosque's property, as it quoted from al-Nawawi. ¹ Something a person placed in the mosque for worshippers' use without intending an endowment or gift is a loan that remains its owner's property. ¹ It concluded that the decision in these matters rests with the Ministry of Awqaf, Islamic Affairs and Holy Places as the endowments' administrator under Awqaf Law no. 32 of 2001. ¹

Jordan's General Iftaa Department published this fatwa on aliftaa.jo as no. 3860, dated 20 March 2024. ¹ The museum records this text as a historical document attributed to the body or scholar that issued it; it issues no ruling of its own.