Endowment: Widening a Public Path on Endowed Land

Practical Laws of Islam as per the teachings of Imam Khamenei

Endowment: Widening a Public Path on Endowed Land

English:

Question #2021:

There is a public footpath on land that is held in trust. Since residential houses have been built on adjacent private land, it has become necessary to widen the footpath. Is it permissible to widen the footpath from both its sides on a 50-50 basis? Supposing that this is not feasible, is it permissible to lease the required area of the land from the trustee to go ahead with the widening project?

Answer #2021:

It is not permissible to [build] a footpath or a road on the endowed land unless it is absolutely necessary or building the road would be subservient to the endowment itself. However, there is no objection to leasing the land held in trust to widen the footpath, safeguarding the interest of the endowment in the process.

-Imam Khamenei, Practical Laws of Islam, Importance and Conditions of Endowments