Waqf

noun (countable)

/wɒkf/

A waqf (also waquf/wakf) is a perpetual Islamic charitable endowment in which a property or asset is irrevocably dedicated to God for a pious purpose, with its usufruct channelled to beneficiaries such as mosques, madrasas, hospitals, or the poor. In India, waqf properties are governed by the Waqf Act, 1995 (amended in 2013 and controversially in 2025 as the Waqf (Amendment) Act), and administered by State Waqf Boards under the Central Waqf Council. India has one of the largest concentrations of waqf property in the world, estimated at over 8.7 lakh registered properties (as of 2023).

✍️ Usage in a UPSC answer

The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, which altered the composition of Waqf Boards and redefined waqf-by-user properties, generated significant constitutional debate over the right of Muslim communities to administer their own charitable endowments under Article 26.

Synonyms

Islamic endowmentcharitable trustmortmainpious foundationinalienable bequest

Antonyms

private propertyalienable assetsecular trustrevocable gift

🌱 Word Family

waqf (noun), waqif (Arabic noun — the dedicator), mawquf (Arabic adjective — the dedicated property), mutawalli (related noun — waqf administrator/trustee), wakf (variant noun)

🔡 Root

Arabic waqf = restraint, standstill, dedication; from root w-q-f (to halt, to stand still, to dedicate)

📜 Etymology

From Arabic waqf, the verbal noun of waqafa (to stop, to stand still, to dedicate), conceptually meaning property 'frozen' for divine purpose. The institution appears in early Islamic jurisprudence (7th–8th century CE) and reached India with the Delhi Sultanate (13th century). The first recorded waqf in the Indian subcontinent is attributed to Qutb-ud-din Aibak for the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque (c. 1193 CE).

🧠 Memory Hook

WAQF = WAQF-rozen property: once dedicated, it is 'frozen' for God — like a property that has halted (waqafa) from circulating in the market forever.

🏛️ History & Culture 📖 Seen in: Indus Valley Civilization (Mature phas...

Tip: press Alt+S to hear pronunciation