lesson 3 - waqf studies

Module 3Phases and Roles of Waqf

WAQF STUDIES INTRODUCTORY COURSE

Course Content

© – AWQAF SA WAQF STUDIES INTRODUCTORY COURSE Slide 2

•Waqf at the service of worship or Ibadah•Mosques•Other services for the benefit of worship

•Scientific and educational Waqf•Waqf at the service of social welfare•Waqf against poverty•Public facilities of society•Waqf for the sick and the disadvantaged

Learning Outcomes


1. Understand the ten deeds which will help a person after death;2. Understand the two different categories of Waqf;3. Understand the contribution of Waqf towards the service of worship or Ibadah;4. Understand women’s contribution towards Waqf;5. Understand the contribution of Waqf towards educational sector;6. Understand the contribution of Waqf towards social welfare for the benefit of Public facilities of the society, welfare of the sick / disadvantaged and social welfare against poverty;7. Understand the contribution towards married couples and people seeking marriage.

The ten deeds which will help a person after his/her death


Imam Sayouti compiled the following from various hadiths regarding the ten deeds which will help a person after his/her death:

1. Beneficial Knowledge he or she published/propagated;2. A child praying for him/her;3. A palm tree he or she planted;4. A lasting charity (e.g. Waqf);5. Leaving a holy book for inheritance;6. Protecting an inlet;7. Digging a well and making a river flow;8. Leaving/building a house for the homeless in order to

provide shelter;9. Building a masjid/mosque for worship;10. Teaching the Qur’an.

Waqf Areas


The Holy Qur’an, encouraged sponsoring and giving both classes in many verses: Allah (SWT) says: " Give the kinsman his due, and the needy, and the wayfarer, and squander not (thy wealth) in wantonness” (Qur’an 17:26); "And serve Allah. Ascribe no thing as partner unto Him. (Show) kindness unto parents, and unto near kindred, and orphans, and the needy, and unto the neighbour who is of kin (unto you) and the neighbour who is not of kin, and the fellow-traveller and the wayfarer and (the slaves) whom your right hands possess. Lo! Allah loveth not such as are proud and boastful,”. (Qur’an 4:36)

Waqf Areas


Following the above verse, the companions of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) devoted their Waqf in two different but complementary areas:The first area was providing the necessary needs for the poor classes in society, such as feeding the poor, beggars, orphans, the homeless and freeing slaves, etc. The second area concerned the children and relatives of the donors.

As a consequence of this, two kinds of Waqf emerged: •General Waqf: Also known as General Waqf is called "Charity Waqf" or “Waqf Khairy”. This Waqf is for all in the public sphere such as the ill and orphans;•Private Waqf: Also known as "Family Waqf” or Waqf Ahli". This Waqf concerns mainly relatives and offspring.

Progression of Waqf


•After the end of the Companions' era, the number of Awqaf increased, developed and diversified, mainly due to the expansion and diversification of the needs of the Islamic societies of that time.

•Awqaf, then, became a primary source of funding for social services such as building and maintaining mosques, education, health care, food, water, freeing slaves, bankrupts, wayfarers, etc. Awqaf began to fill in many big gaps that are normally dealt with by governments, such as military equipment, supporting holy fighters and their families, paying for the liberation of prisoners, and building fortresses.

Progression of Waqf


• In parallel with the growth of Waqf, there was a growth in the (fiqhi) legislative regulations dealing with Waqf, its contentions, management, protection, solutions, as well as controlling and auditing its revenues and expenditure.

• These aspects showed a high level of civilization and modernity in Islamic history. In addition to that, the Waqf institution, with its religious, scientific, social and political dimensions, was a crucial foundation and lasting resource for Islamic civilization.

Progression of Waqf


The following slides cover merely an overview of the noble roles of Waqf endowment in serving society, satisfying its needs, developing it. These are glimpses and fragments of some of what has been written about endowments records.

The focus here has been on a specific time and space of the Islamic history and its geographic area.

Waqf at the service of worship or Ibadah


•Ibadah in Islam is a school educating and teaching high standard behaviour, individually and collectively. Ibadah is in essence a fulfilment of the duties towards Allah (SWT), the Creator, the Evolver, the Bestower of forms and colours, the Most Gracious, Most Merciful, in acknowledgement of His Godliness and Majesty. And it is a transcendence of the soul and thought in His presence and before Him, praise be to Him.•For all these reasons, ibadah including prayer, fasting, almsgiving, reciting the Qur’an, pilgrimage and invocation of Allah (SWT), were made pillars and foundations in Islam. Thus, it is not surprising that believers are engaged in endowment by teaching, encouraging, managing, funding and equipping for it.

Waqf at the service of worship or Ibadah


•In fact, the Waqf properties devoted to ibadah in general, and especially devoted to Salaat in particular, has been among the most important means of preserving, supporting and facilitating the continuity of such worship, by whose preservation the religion itself is preserved in its essence.

Masjids / Mosques


•Building a mosque was the first thing the Apostle of Allah (SWT) did when he arrived at Al Madinah Al Munawwara. Following the foot-steps of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), all the conquerors and advocates of Islam built Masjids, whenever they brought their religion to a region, city or village. • A mosque is by definition Waqf property. This means that all mosques are Waqf for the sake of Allah (SWT). • Ruqaya Belmqeddem, a researcher, says: "Mosques come in the first place of these institutions. Waqf has been mutually connected with mosques. In fact, mosques are considered the first kind of Waqf in Islam”.

Masjids / Mosques


Waqf for mosques comprises the land lot, construction and furniture. It comprises their annexes such as Qur’anic schools, libraries, ablution facilities, and sometimes housing for the Imam. It also comprises of commercial Waqf properties, whose income returns are devoted to management and construction, including wages for caretakers such as the muezzin and the Imam. Today we have several examples of mosques that are self sufficient and even contribute to other social development projects and programmes.

Women’s contribution towards Waqf


• Historically, women have contributed tremendously towards Waqf.For example, the great mosque/masjid, Al Karawiyin Mosque located at Fez – Morrocco was founded by Fatima Bent Cheikh Faqih Abi Abdellah Mohammed Bin Abdellah Al Fihri Al Kayrawani, alias Fatima Oum Al banin with her inheritance. She chose the appropriate land lot herself, and paid from her own money (sixty ounces of gold). She also paid for the cost of building. The building of Al Qarawiyin Mosque started during the blessed month of Ramadan, in 245 H. She pledged to fast for the sake of Allah (SWT) during all the time of building the mosque. •The unique characteristics of the Al Qarawiyin Mosque is not only in the fact hat a virtuous woman built if from hr own money but its historical/cultural, political, scientific and religious roles.



The second example is Al Andalusiyin Mosque in Fez which was built by Maryam Al Fihriya, the younger sibling of Fatima Al Fihriya who is the founder of Al-Qarawiyin.. The mosques are siblings in that they were built at the same time and in the same city. The third example is Bab Doukkala Mosque in Marrakesh which was built in 995H by Masaouda Al Wazkitia, mother of the Saadi Calif Ahmed Al Mansour Ad-Dhahbi. She also equipped the masjid with a library and devoted bequest for scholarly chairs.



The fourth example is from South Africa. The first masjid in South Africa is known as Masjid al Awwal was bequeathed by a woman in 1794. Her name was Sara van den Kaap and she was a slave descendent. This masjid still stands today and was the forerunner of Muslim schools in South Africa providing learning and teaching to all people from all backgrounds particularly the children of slaves. Islam was officially unbanned in the Cape of Good Hope in 1804.

Other services for the benefit of worship


There are many other Awqaf dedicated towards services for the benefit of worship. One of these services is the Waqf or bequest meant for the elderly who stay in mosques and regularly participate in prayers. This bequest is meant to help and honour them.

An example of such is at Al Qarawiyin Mosque in Fès where some benefactors devoted Waqf for people who would remind people before prayers by saying “Straighten your lines”, “May Allah Bless you”. Other Waqfs were devoted to people crossing some towns or villages on their way to pilgrimage.

Scientific and educational Waqf


•The scientific and educational Waqf activity began within Waqf mosques and their facilities. Most of these facilities contained Qur'anic schools for elementary education and memorization of the Holy Qur'an. Then the idea of libraries annexed to mosques emerged. After that came the idea of bequeathing scholarly chairs in some great mosques, that got its own bequest within the mosque institution.

•With growth, development and specialization, the scientific movement started to get some independence from the mosque and its main function. Hence the phenomenon of schools began, some of which became higher scientific institutions such as universities.



For example, Al Qarawiyin located in Morrocco is an educational and scientific institution (University of Al Qarawiyin). This institution is the oldest example and the greatest representation of the scientific and educational role of Waqf in Morocco. In fact, it is one of the oldest and greatest models in the whole Islamic world.

In spite of historical factors, the Qarawiyin Mosque grew and developed at a very fast rate to become Al Qarawiyin University. This was due to the bequest fortunes that were devoted to its services. Thus, the bequest devoted to Al Qarawiyin from all parts of Morocco helped increase its revenue, which resulted in an increase in scholarly chairs and regular students who benefitted from board and scholarships. Within and around Al Qarawiyin, many schools were established and equipped by benefactors and Waqf makers.



In spite of the fact that Al Qarawiyin was a diversified institution with branches and trained a wide range of specialities such as fuqaha, judges (qadhis), teachers, khateebs, civil servants, doctors, and astronomers; it did not remain the only source of knowledge. Bequest makers built schools in different Moroccan cities and made bequests to cover teachers’ wages, students’ food and board, libraries of precious books and any other activity that helped these schools fulfil their goals and preserve their continuity.

The other kinds of bequest that served science, scientists and scholars and are meant specifically for students and scholars.They are forms of bequest especially made to encourage scientific research, such as the Waqf made by Moulay Abdellah bnu Mohammed, son of King Moulay Ismaïl (one of the kings of the Alaouite dynasty in Morocco -12th C. H.).



This Waqf is made of a number of big rich orchards whose crop is sold, and the money is divided among two hundred students, with a proviso in the bequest document (waqfiyyah).

Among those who benefited from bequest wages is a class of people who were mentioned in a bequest document by King Mohammed bnu Abdellah: “the learned men who read the astrolabe and study arithmetic can have their share from bequest…" Thus, we can see what Moulay Mohammed bin Abdellah used to offer as rewards and encouragement to scholars, either from his own money or from bequest money, for them to do their job in the best way.

Waqf at the service of social welfare - Waqf against poverty


Ahmed Baba Tenbekti As-Soudani, an outstanding scholars of Mali said after visiting a number of Islamic countries - “the Muslim countries he visited in the region of Sudan (today’s West Africa) were characterized by the abundance of food; so much so that you would not find hunger. People would leave what is left of their food and put in on a clean rug near the mosque. The hungry and needy would feed from it…”

This kind of charitable participation that was meant for the poor and wayfarers became regular Waqf and institutions to which the needy go to. Some of these institutions can be devoted to housing and feeding wayfarers, while others are devoted to the elderly.



A number of small mosques and hospices that used to deal with worship, education and holy war used to feed and shelter visitors and passersby. By way of example, “King Yacoub bnu Abdul Lhaq (Merinide dynasty in Morocco) built small mosques in the country side. He devised many Waqf endowments for these mosques in order to feed wayfarers and the needy.” Then An-Naciri, the author of “Al Istiqsa”, sadi: “After him, his sons followed suit; they increased the number of scientific schools, small mosques and hospices; and devoted Waqf benefits for all that.” “Zaouia Moutawakkiliya” founded by Abu Inan Al Marini in Fes, was one of these small mosques. It was known as the "House of Guests" alluding to its charitable function.



During the Merinide era, different and sometimes specialized bequest institutions expanded in order to fulfill the needs of different classes throughout Morocco. “And all these houses are part of the Waqf invented by the Merinides and devised for the poor and the needy. It was known as "Bequest of the Poor". It is a Waqf with different facets. Rulers participated in Waqf together with many charitable people…”

Public facilities of society


•Some of the important services that benefactors and bequest makers cared for were: to provide water by digging wells and sources and putting them under bequest, to build water fountains for charity, to build water canals in order to transport water from its source to the place of use.

•Historically, Awqaf took the responsibility to provide cities with water, ablution places, public baths and other necessities for dwellers.

Public facilities of society


• Sheikh Mohammed Mekki Naciri stated “that most of Moroccan public baths in cities owe their presence to bequest. The bequest makers of these baths believe that they are centres for Islamic cleanliness. They were built in order for Muslims to clean themselves and to allow men and women to fulfil their religious duties. That is why their rent as well as the price for washing was very low; for they are linked to religion that requires all Muslims to wash.”

• Other public services that Waqf endowment financed were building bridges, town walls (security), lightening of alleys, as well as dedicating land lots to be used as graveyards.

Waqf for the sick and the disadvantaged


•As it is the case in different charity situations, care for the ill and the disadvantaged or the handicapped, moved from being individual sporadic work to a phase of lasting and well organized scientific institutions.•Bequests was created to encompass buildings specially devised for people who were ill and for the disadvantaged or the handicapped. These buildings were equipped with the necessary facilities from special endowments whose revenue were spent regularly on providing these care.•Professor Mohammed Bin Abdel Aziz bin Abdellah believes that “the first ‘bimarestane” that was known in North Africa was the one built by Al Mansour Al Mouwahhidi in Marrakech about a century before the foundation of the city of Cairo.”



• Hospitals expanded in the different big cities of Morocco, such as Fes, Meknes, Rabat, Salé, Marrakech, Tangiers and other cities. Special hospitals for the mentally ill also emerged, among which is Sidi Frej Hospital in Fès, which was founded in the seventh century of Hijra. It continued operating until the middle of the twentieth century A.D. Another example is M’hammed Al Ghazi Hospital in Rabat where mentally ill people visited from all over Morocco seeking cure and recovery. It used to have special Awqaf specified for this purpose.”•Caring for the ill, including medication and entertainment, reached such an excellent level that “a salary was allocated to the ill in order to satisfy their needs, and another for the people who nursed them.”



•Special Waqf dwellings were founded for some categories of people with handicaps or with contagious illnesses that were difficult to cure at the time. “Thus, we find in Fes a place housing people who had leprosy. It had around two hundred rooms. These people had their own Imam and their own leader who collected for them revenues from rent that were endowed for them and in worship for the sake of Allah. These bequests were made by some notables and other people. These ill people were provided with all necessities, so that all their needs were satisfied.”

Waqf for marriage and needy married couples


• In the city of Fes, furnished houses under Waqf would enable poor people to organize their weddings and stay for a few days. Some of these houses were Waqf endowments for the blind to get married. In Marrakech, there was a house devoted to women in conflict with their husbands. They benefited from free room and board until they reconcile with their husbands. There were many endowments to meet the needs of the maintenance and to provide these kinds of facilities.

End of Module 3


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lesson 3 - waqf studies

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