With the rise of humanitarian challenges and the increasing number of those in need, including displaced persons and patients around the world, charitable endowment (waqf) stands as one of the greatest tools for sustainable empowerment. It is not merely a temporary voluntary act, but a strategic developmental model that redistributes resources fairly and provides communities with tools for self-sufficiency.

In the Islamic concept, waqf is not about transient giving, but about establishing lasting charitable institutions that serve people continuously—free from dependence or seasonal poverty.

waqf meaning

Linguistically: means to withhold and to prevent.

Legally (in Islamic jurisprudence): It is “withholding the principal and dedicating the benefit,” meaning allocating a fixed asset, preventing its sale or inheritance, and dedicating its income or benefit to a lasting charitable cause.

Waqf : A Legislative and Historical Perspective

Since the time of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, waqf has been a means for building the Islamic state, supporting the poor, financing education, and caring for the needy.
The Prophet ﷺ established the first waqf in Islam: the well of Rumah in Madinah, which was purchased by the companion Uthman ibn Affan (may Allah be pleased with him) and made a waqf for the Muslims.

The companions and their successors established endowments in areas such as:

• Education (schools, Quranic circles, libraries)

• Health (bimaristans and hospitals)

• Caring for orphans and widows

• Relief for disaster victims

• Support for travelers and wayfarers

Why is waqf a Long-Term Investment?

 Is not just an act of kindness, but a strategic investment in the future of communities. It is characterized by:

1. Continuity:
   Unlike one-time donations, Charitable Endowment ensures lasting benefit for decades or even centuries.

2. Financial Independence:
   It provides charitable institutions with a stable income source, without constant need for support.

3. Cumulative Impact:
   Each year increases its impact and beneficiaries without needing more funding.

4. Ongoing Reward for the Endower:
   Allah has promised an uninterrupted reward for the one who creates a waqf, as long as it continues to serve.

5. Reinvestment of Wealth for Public Benefit:
   Endowments direct individual wealth toward serving the public good.

Modern Fields of waqf

Today, charitable endowment is not limited to building mosques or printing Qur’ans—it now addresses many of the essential needs of human societies, including:

1. Educational Endowment

• Building schools, institutes, and universities

• Sponsoring students

• Providing smart devices and educational materials

• Supporting free digital learning platforms

Impact: Eradicating illiteracy, empowering future generations, building capable community members.

2. Health Endowment

• Establishing clinics and health centers

• Purchasing medical equipment (e.g., radiology, dialysis, incubators)

• Funding expensive medications and treatments

• Supporting patients with chronic and rare diseases

Impact: Saving lives, easing pressure on healthcare systems, breaking the cycle of health-related poverty.

3. Food and Relief Endowment

• Charitable kitchens

• Monthly food packages

• Supporting school meal programs

• Emergency funds for natural disasters and displacement

Impact: Reducing hunger, strengthening food security, preserving human dignity.

4. Economic and Empowerment Endowment

• Funding small projects for needy families

• Providing production tools (machines, vocational equipment)

• Offering sustainable vocational training for youth and women

Impact: Lifting families out of poverty, creating local jobs, enhancing self-reliance.

5. Religious and Cultural Endowment

• Mosques and Islamic centers

• Libraries

• Supporting academic conferences

• Printing books on jurisprudence and Islamic outreach

6 . Charitable Endowment and Orphan Sponsorship: A Model of Sustainable Mercy

Orphan sponsorship is one of the greatest avenues of righteousness in Islam. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“I and the one who takes care of an orphan will be in Paradise like this,” and he held his two fingers together.

To ensure the continuity of this noble deed, charitable endowment emerges as a strategic tool to establish a lasting sponsorship that does not end with the death of the sponsor or changing economic conditions.

When an endower allocates a fixed asset (such as property, shares, or an endowment fund), and assigns its monthly or yearly returns to support orphans, this creates ongoing sponsorship covering:

• Food and clothing

• Education and healthcare

• Psychological and social support

How to Start Your Own Waqf?

Through the website of the International Waqf Fund, you can donate the value of a waqf share. The fund then invests the amount and uses its annual returns to finance the emergency relief fund.

Each year, your donation grows and saves more lives in different communities—and that is the ultimate goal