✍️ Amaresh Yadav

Waqf Dictionary that includes key terms used in legal, social, and religious contexts relating to waqf matters. This can help in understanding the framework, functioning, and disputes around waqf properties in India and other Islamic contexts.

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Waqf Dictionary

A

• Aml-e-Mutabarrik: A charitable act or deed; often used in the context of endowing something as waqf.
• Ameen: A person appointed to manage the waqf or trust property honestly and fairly.

B

• Beneficiaries: Individuals or groups who benefit from the waqf (can be family, poor, madrasa, mosque, etc.).
• Board of Waqf: Statutory bodies under the Waqf Act responsible for administration and supervision of waqf properties.

C

• Caretaker (Mutawalli): Manager or trustee of waqf property appointed to administer it per waqif’s intent.

D

• Dedication: Act of permanently setting aside property or income for religious/charitable purposes.

F

• Fiduciary Duty: Legal responsibility of the mutawalli to act in the interest of the waqf’s purpose.

G

• Gazette Notification: Legal requirement to publish waqf properties in the state gazette to officially recognize them.

H

• Hiba: Gift under Muslim law; often distinguished from waqf (permanent vs revocable).
• Hujra: A room or chamber often attached to waqf premises like mosques or dargahs.

I

• Idara: Organization/institution often formed to manage religious or waqf-related functions.
• Istibdal: Exchange of waqf property with another property of equal or greater value (allowed under certain conditions).
• Intiqal: Transfer of ownership, but not allowed for waqf as it’s irrevocable.

K

• Kazi (Qazi): Islamic judge who may have a role in resolving waqf disputes in traditional settings.

L

• Lease: Waqf property may be leased with prior permission from the Waqf Board, usually for limited periods.
• Litigation: Legal disputes over waqf property, often about illegal occupation, mismanagement, or title claims.

M

• Masjid: Mosque; a common form of waqf property.
• Madrasa: Islamic school, often run from or supported by waqf funds.
• Mutawalli: Manager/trustee of waqf property.
• Musharaka: Partnership model in Islamic finance; rarely relevant to waqf but can appear in redevelopment cases.

N

• Non-transferable: A core principle of waqf—property once declared waqf cannot be sold or gifted.

P

• Public Waqf: Waqf created for the benefit of the general public (e.g., schools, hospitals, mosques).
• Private Waqf (Waqf-alal-Aulad): Waqf for the benefit of family/descendants, with a final charitable purpose.

Q

• Qabza: Possession; relevant in cases of illegal occupation of waqf land.

R

• Revenue Records: Legal land records where waqf status should be reflected; vital in legal battles.
• Registration of Waqf: Mandatory under Waqf Act, 1995; waqf properties must be registered with the Waqf Board.

S

• Survey Commissioner of Waqf: Appointed under Waqf Act to conduct surveys and maintain records of waqf properties.
• Sadaqah Jariyah: Ongoing charity; a key motivation behind waqf.

T

• Title Dispute: A legal challenge to ownership, common in waqf property litigation.
• Tenant Eviction: Legal process to remove unlawful occupants of waqf properties.

U

• Usufruct: Right to enjoy the use and advantages of waqf property without owning it.

V

• Vacancy: A term relevant in managing waqf institutions; used in appointing mutawallis or staff.

W

• Waqf: A permanent endowment of property for religious or charitable purposes in Islam.
• Waqif: The person who creates the waqf.
• Waqf Tribunal: Quasi-judicial body to handle waqf disputes, formed under Waqf Act, 1995.

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