Meaning & use
waqf
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Meaning
nouncountable or uncountablereligionlegalspecialist
In Islamic law, a permanent charitable donation of property whose income is used for religious or public benefit.
Grammar: Can be countable (a waqf, several waqfs) or uncountable when referring to the institution in general.
Patterns
- a waqf
- waqf property
- the waqf system
The mosque was funded by a waqf established centuries ago.
He donated his land as waqf to support the poor.
Under Islamic law, waqf assets cannot be sold or inherited.
Word forms
| plural | waqfs |
|---|
Common combinations
- waqf property
- The waqf property generates income for the school.
- establish a waqf
- The merchant established a waqf to fund a hospital.
- waqf system
- The waqf system provides social services in many Muslim countries.
Synonyms and how they differ
- endowment
- A general term for a donation that provides ongoing income; waqf is specifically an Islamic legal institution with permanent charitable restrictions.
- charitable trust
- A legal arrangement in common law; waqf is the Islamic equivalent but has its own rules and cannot be sold or inherited.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'waqf' correctly?
Choose one answer.
A waqf is a permanent charitable endowment whose income must serve its purpose; it generally cannot be sold, inherited, or used as loan collateral, so options 0, 1, and 3 are incorrect.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “waqf”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.