Waqf, Building Economic Power

Praise be to Allah (SWT) and Blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad (SAW)

Hence, make ready against them [the mushrik enemies] whatever force and [impressive] war mounts you are able to muster, so that you might deter thereby the enemies of Allah, who are your enemies as well, and others besides them of whom you may be unaware, [but] of whom Allah is aware; and whatever you may expend in Allah’s cause shall be repaid to you in full, and you shall not be wronged. [Al Anfal, 8:60]

Recent debates on various platforms have shown, if it were still necessary, a misunderstanding of the concept of waqf. This weakness seems to be exploited by policymakers to impose excessive controls under the guise of compliance with certain international requirements.

Waqf remains an important part of the Islamic economy. Throughout history, initiatives founded on the principle of charity aimed at acquiring Sawab e Jariyah (eternal reward) have contributed to poverty alleviation, job creation, and capacity building, and consequently to the socio-economic development of many countries.

As a reminder, the story of the acquisition of a well by Uthman ibn Affan (R.A) in Madina, at the time of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW), in order to provide free water to the people of Madina, is a striking example of the importance of waqf. This initiative, which continues to this day to develop dynamically, still fulfilling the wishes of its founder, has become the symbol of the success of waqf. Other initiatives, such as the founding by Fatima al-Fihri of Al Qarawiyyin University in Morocco, based on the concept of waqf, are also recognized as a lasting contribution to the Ummah, still allowing its founder to reap Sawab e Jariyah.

[…]and standardize the salah and organize the zakat, and [thus] lend unto Allah a genuine loan:[…] [Al Muzammil, 73:20]

The Ulema unanimously agree that these verses refer to waqf. In addition to allowing the initiator of a waqf project to benefit from Sawab e Jariyah, waqf is also defined as the investment of an asset, property, or money, with the aim of using the income thus generated for philanthropic projects, poverty alleviation, or capacity building.

Muhammad (SAW) said:

"Three things follow a person after death: the knowledge he shared, righteous heirs, and ongoing charity."

Waqf: A Dynamic System

An essential element of the Islamic economy, waqf is far from the static, even paralyzed, system illustrated in Mauritius by the dilapidated buildings and fallow land often associated with waqf. The act of dedicating a possession to Allah (SWT), with a view to acquiring eternal reward, is called waqf. The waqif, the donor, expresses his decision through a document, the waqfnama. This is a key element in determining the future management of the waqf and the role it will play in the development of society.

In this document, the waqif, the donor, specifies that he is indeed the owner of the property and acknowledges that the donation will be perpetual and irreversible. He also specifies the objectives for which he is making this donation, identifies the first manager (mutawalli), and establishes the criteria by which successive mutawallis will be chosen.

Uthman's well, also known as Birr Uthman, or Birr Rumma, is a concrete example of the evolution of a waqf to produce more income and help more people. It was, and still is, a dynamic waqf.

Waqf: A Perpetual Act

Imagine someone planting an olive seed. The olive tree that grows from it is meant to be passed down from generation to generation; long after the original planter has passed away, the tree will bear fruit for more than 100 years, generating income continuously. In fact, the olive symbolizes the perpetuity of waqf, passed on from one generation to the next. We can say of this planter that he is a generational thinker, a visionary whose initiative will benefit several generations.

This is also what the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was, when he advised Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA) to turn his orchard into a waqf, and to sell its fruit, with the proceeds benefiting the poor, the needy, and future generations, right up to today. Thus, one of the best ways to follow in the footsteps of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) is to revive the sunnah of the waqf system, a system that brings together visionaries who, through their generosity and their aspiration to please Allah (SWT), can contribute to the advancement of the Ummah.

[But as for you, who are committed to Allah], never shall you attain to true virtue unless you spend on others out of what you cherish yourselves; and whatever you spend — verily, Allah has full knowledge thereof. [Ali ‘Imran, 3:92]

Waqf: Building Economic Power

Another aspect of waqf, little known in Mauritius but practiced in many countries, is the contribution that waqf can make to building the economic power of the Ummah, through cash waqf. It is certain that in order to influence a country's political decisions, the Ummah needs economic power. The Ummah's current situation compels us to focus on the economic power of Muslims and how this power can influence the political decisions that affect our lives. We must clearly understand that those who are in power are not necessarily those who hold power.

In verse 60 of Surah Al-Anfal, Allah (SWT) asks us to prepare, to remain in a state of readiness at all times. He also asks us to prepare the cavalry, in other words: to build military and economic power. Allah (SWT) urges us to build power, to strengthen our capacities, in order to face attacks against our deen and Islamophobic threats. The recent surge of Islamophobic remarks on social media, as well as the recent implicit recognition, in the Domestic Abuse Act, of the legitimacy of same-sex couples, should serve as a warning to us.

In verse 60 of Surah Al-Anfal, cited above, Allah (SWT) makes an explicit request to the Ummah: build power. After the victory of Badr, it was the first time the Muslims had something to celebrate; there were spoils of war to distribute. It was at this precise moment that Allah (SWT) chose to ask the Muslims to remain in a state of preparation, for the next battle would require even more preparation.

Commentators unanimously agree: preparation is not limited to military preparation. It involves building power in all its aspects, building economic power, and strengthening the capacities of the Ummah. We cannot build power without wealth. We must build this wealth in order to be able to influence political decisions, while keeping in mind that our primary mission is to make Allah's deen prevail.

Waqf, or the provision to the Ummah of agricultural or commercial land, as well as buildings, allows us to create wealth and, in the long term, economic power. Allah (SWT) has commanded us to prepare everything we can to build power. This requires Muslims to establish solid business relationships in order to build strong economies. The economy is our concern. Let us identify the businesspeople to whom Allah (SWT) has granted success and form alliances with them. It is imperative to create alliances, to explore avenues of collaboration that benefit the Ummah in the long term.

May Allah help and guide us.