One Committee Member Acting Alone in the Affairs of a Mosque

Question

The worshippers of a mosque have entrusted the management of the mosque to five men, Zayd among them. But Zayd, without consulting the others, keeps making decisions in the management of the mosque on his own opinion: he himself appoints an imam, and himself, after some days, dismisses him on some accusation. Likewise, when people say something regarding construction work, he does not accept it, and matters escalate between them. This situation has gone on for ten years. What is the Shari‘a ruling?

Answer

If the sensible people there consider that these actions of Zayd cause harm to the mosque, they should stop him from such actions and by no means give him permission: without all five men he has no right to act alone. It is also necessary to keep the accounts clear, and nothing should be done that would leave the mosque deserted and cause division.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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