Construction can't be done on 'waqf' land: Iraqi Shia cleric

KANPUR: On a reference sought by a Kanpur educationalist, Iraq-based leading Shia cleric Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani has ruled that ‘waqf’ properties cannot be handed over for construction of temple or any other non-muslim shrine.

The reference was sought in connection with UP Shia Central Waqf Board chairman Waseem Rizvi’s announcement that the disputed site in Ayodhya belongs to Shia Board and should be given for construction of Ram temple.

Rizvi, however, claimed that Sistani was not provided complete details of the issue.


Sistani is an Iranian Shia ‘marja’ (source to imitate/ follow or religious reference), in Iraq and the head of many ‘hawzahs’ (seminaries) in Najaf and made the statement while replying to an email query sent by Mazhar Naqvi, a city-based elocutionist, about a month ago.

The diktat of the Iranian cleric comes at a time when Rizvi has been repeatedly pointing out that the disputed land at Ayodhya should be given to Hindus for construction of Ram temple.

The Shia cleric’s view was that as the mosque was constructed by a Shia ruler, the waqf property belongs to that community.

“Following the ‘fatwa’, Rizvi should resign and step down from the post of chairman of Shia Central Waqf Board. He should withdraw his petition filed at the SC wherein he had told the apex court in 2017 that the Board wants to settle the Ayodhya dispute peacefully and is willing to give the land to the Hindu community, so that they can build a Ram temple,” Naqvi told TOI on Tuesday.

“I also want to say, when once a mosque is built, it becomes a property of Allah. Therefore, it couldn’t be given to anyone. Rizvi should apologise for his act,” Naqvi added.