(Translation from Arabic into English by Mr. Yassin Abdul-Rahman Hassan, B.A., sworn translator, member of Iraqi Translators Association. Baghdad, 29 Aug. 1993)

Q1: Is it the duty of mosque's preachers to raise public awareness and make them familiar with the importance of tree conservation?

Tree conservation is the duty of the government, scientists, preachers and all classes of people, because the tree is of God creation, so he entrusted us with its conservation. It is of great use to moisture and one of rains causes and living necessities. The government celebrates the Tree week every year at the beginning of spring and on this occasion many fruitful and fruitless plants are brought and this contributed to the spreading of trees planting. The senior persons in charge take part in tree week for planting of trees.

Q2: There is a sacred tradition (by the Prophet Mohamad) Peace be upon him, namely, "you (muslims, authors rem.) should participate in three things: Water, Fire ("fire-wood". transl.) and Forage."

Does this tradition mean that Bura' Mountain Forest, which is considered as endowment ("waqf", the transl.) land, should be treated as dedicated land and common property to all people and the government or any other authority has no right to protect the forest or supervise the process of fire-wood and tree cutting from the forest?

People should participate in the common forage which is not owned or due to particular persons. The mortmained estate of Bura' Mountain Forest should be subject to the provisions of the endower ("waqf creator". transl.). Its protection is necessary and must be preserved by the guardians ("mutawalleen") and with government help. Its trees mustn't be cut at random manner, because this forest is of Yemeni glorious heritage. It is the task of government and persons in charge to prevent its extinctionby stopping trees cutting so that its benefit to continue for the coming generation.

Q3: Hundreds years ago the Bajli Family endowed a land of vast area at Bura' and it is now a natural forest known at present as Bura' Mountain Forest. It is the most important forest on the Arabian Peninsula and the last one that remains of Arabia Felix forests.

As a result of endowment document stipulation that all persons have the right to obtain their livehood from the forest, it is now exposed to the process of fire-wood and trees cutting at random way and the forest may disappear if this process continues.

Then, is it the right of the Ministry of Agriculture, represented by the Direcorate General of Forests, to work for protecting the forest and regulating this cutting process? Let us know, please!

What is the Islamic Law point of view if the Ministry of Agriculture protects the rare trees from the extinction operation, bearing in mind that these trees don't exist in the whole world exept in Bura' Mountain?

The Ministry of Agriculture should help the special guardian from Bajili Hous in protecting the forest from extinction particularly it contains trees not exist in the whole world, therefore, such trees must be preserved and developed. ....

Q4: If the Ministry of Agriculture makes Bura' Forest a national park and becomes of economic return, what is the proportion of this return that will be given to Bajli family, bearing in mind that there is an office (diwan) in endowment (waqf) name and the endowment document (waqfiyah) doesn't refer to the percentage to be paid by the beneficiary of the endowments?

If the forest becomes a public national park with economic return, the Bajli Family will have a tithe (one tenth) or a quarter of tithe or as the competent persons decide.

Now, has the government the right to protect these trees and how the process of protection will be done according to Islamic point of view?

The government should guide the owners of rare trees to preserve, make them familiar with their value and assist them in conserving such trees.

Is it rightful for this tribe, the forest owner, to oblige such groups and tribes plantinng and afforesting the forest in return for their continued fire-wood and cutting from the forest? What the Islamic Law view point concerning this point?

The tribe who owns the forest may oblige such groups and tribes to plant and afforest the forest in return for their continued fire-wood and cutting from the forest. A new planting must be done in return for cutting from the forest.