waqf

Waqf is an Islamic endowment in which a person dedicates a property or other asset for a charitable or religious purpose, with the asset kept in perpetuity and its usufruct managed for the prescribed beneficiary or community. The founder, or waqif, relinquishes ownership to God and transfers responsibility for administration to one or more trustees, known in Arabic as mutawalli, who expend the proceeds or use the property according to the terms set out in the endowment deed.

Historically, waqf has been a central social and religious institution in much of the Muslim world. Waqfs funded mosques, madrasas (schools), hospitals, bridges, wells, and other public works, often creating enduring sources of income for maintenance and services. In many regions, waqf foundations accumulated significant land and cash assets, operating within legal frameworks that varied by era and jurisdiction, from medieval Islamic states to modern nation-states.

Assets designated as waqf can be real estate, cash, or movable properties, and may be restricted to specific purposes (for example, a mosque or a scholarship fund) or set for broader charitable use. Revenue generated by waqf assets is used to support the stated purposes; governance is typically handled by mutawallis or endowment administrators, under a system guided by Shariah principles and local law.

In contemporary contexts, waqf is regulated by civil or religious law, with reforms aimed at improving governance, transparency, and sustainability. Some countries promote cash waqf or endowment funds to adapt the model to modern philanthropy, while preserving the fundamental principle of an irrevocable, perpetual charitable endowment.