Waqf

A waqf is a religious endowment in Islam, typically devoting a building or plot of land for Muslim religious purposes.

Related Topics:
Islam - Muslim

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The practice of declaring property as waqf may also have its origins in the ancient Islamic estate law, whereby a man's property reverted to the nation's ruler upon the man's death. This is unlike other cultures wherein a man's descendants or designees inherit the property. By declaring his estate as waqf and his descendants as trustees, a rich man could provide an income for his surviving family.

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The waqf is commonly used to refer to the Muslim administrative body currently responsible for the area of the Temple Mount.

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