What is the Waqf Amendment bill?
Asked by: Rickey McLaughlin | Last update: June 4, 2026Score: 4.9/5 (54 votes)
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024/2025, introduced in India, aims to overhaul management of Muslim religious and charitable endowments (Waqfs) by increasing transparency, adding non-Muslim representation to boards, empowering the central government, and ensuring funds serve welfare goals, but it's controversial, with critics fearing it undermines community control and rights, while supporters see it as modernizing governance and protecting assets from misuse. Key changes include digitizing records, removing "waqf by use," mandating non-Muslim members and women's representation on boards, and strengthening financial auditing for accountability.
What is the meaning of the Waqf Amendment Bill?
Key features of 2025 Waqf Act
It clarifies that the person must own the property being declared. It removes waqf by user. It also adds that waqf-alal-aulad must not result in denial of inheritance rights to the donor's heir including women heirs. Omitting the provisions relating to the “waqf by user”.
What is the waqf amendment bill 2025?
The Waqf Amendment Bill 2025 has been introduced with the primary objective of addressing shortcomings in the management and governance of Waqf properties on August 8, 2024. ● On August 9, 2024, both Houses of Parliament referred the Bill to a Joint Committee of 21 Lok.
What is the waqf system in Islam?
Waqf, in the context of Islamic civilization, has an important role in improving community welfare and economic empowerment. As such, waqf is not only an act of charity but also an investment in sustainable good. Waqf khairi refers to waqf that is intended for the public interest or the benefit of mankind at large.
What is an example of a waqf?
A waqf endowment usually benefits the community as a whole by offering a service that is useful to society. For example: a hospital or a university. In Arabic, waqf, or the plural 'Awqaf' means 'restriction' because it acknowledges that all properties belong to God.
Waqf Amendment Bill | Explained: What Is The Waqf (Amendment) Bill?
What is the problem with waQF?
Waqf properties in India face major issues, including mismanagement, illegal occupation, and lack of transparency: The WAMSI portal reports that over 58,898 Waqf properties are illegally occupied.
What does the word waqf stand for?
Waqf, an inalienable religious endowment in Islam, often translated in English with "Foundation". The term waqf literally means detention.
Who controls the waqf?
The Waqf Act of 1995, enforced by the Central Government, currently regulates Waqf properties. The main administrative bodies are: Central Waqf Council (CWC) – Advises the government and State Waqf Boards on policy but does not directly control Waqf properties.
What does the Quran say about waqf?
Even though there is no direct injunction of waqf in the Quran, one must not undermine its importance, especially when it creates great benefits for both the endower and society. From the perspective of the endower, through waqf creation, an important and pious deed will survive the endower till after his/her death.
Can non-Muslims give waqf?
The Court said that non-Muslims can still donate properties for charitable purposes. The Supreme Court today(September 15) observed that it is not arbitrary if non-Muslim citizens can't donate property to be considered as waqf, as they can still do so by creating a charitable trust.
Does CAA affect Indian Muslims?
No. The CAA does not affect any Indian citizens, including Muslim citizens. 5. How does it benefit Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, Parsi and Christian foreigners hailing from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan?
Who started waqf in India?
The Waqf boards in the Indian subcontinent were formed in 1913 during the British rule. The Mussalman Waqf Act 1923 was established for the purpose of advising it on matters pertaining to the working of the State Waqf Boards and proper administration of the Waqfs in the country.
Is Sharia law banned in India?
The Supreme Court has ruled that judgements from Islamic courts like Kazi's court or Sharia courts have no legal recognition or enforcibility in India. This means any order Fatwa or settlement from these bodies is not binding and cannot be enforced by law.
What is the impact of the Waqf amendment Bill 2025?
The Waqf Amendment Act, 2025 marks a significant overhaul of waqf governance in India. While it introduces some measures aimed at inclusivity and administrative reform, it also centralises state control and undermines the autonomy of Muslim community institutions.
What are the three types of waqf?
This can be categorised as:
- Property Waqf.
- Corporate Waqf.
- Cash Waqf.
Can a Waqf be terminated?
A waqf is intended to be perpetual and last forever. Nevertheless, Islamic law envisages conditions under which the waqf may be terminated: If the goods of the waqf are destroyed or damaged. Scholars interpret this as the case where goods are no longer used in the manner intended by the founder.
What does the Quran say is forbidden?
In the Quran and reports by early Muslims, forbidden meat includes pork, carnivores (lions, tigers, wolves, dogs, cats, etc.), non-ruminants (donkeys and horses), animals that were slaughtered in the name of a god other than Allah, animals that died due to illness, injury, stunning, poisoning, or slaughtering not in ...
What are the benefits of waqf?
The benefits of waqf
- Sharpen our social skill and help the distress. Waqf can help sharpen our social interest and skill. ...
- There is nothing everlasting. Waqf makes us learn that there are other people's rights in our wealth. ...
- Our reward flows endlessly. ...
- Prevent social gap. ...
- Help boost economic and social development.
What are some examples of waqf?
Masjid Quba and Masjid An-Nabaweeh in Medinah were the first Waqf properties established by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Since then, titles to religious properties, including mosques, Islamic centers, and schools are held by a Waqf (Islamic trust) institution.
What is the purpose of a Waqf?
Also known as Wakf-alal aulad, a Sharia-compliant endowment involving the permanent and inalienable transfer of the ownership rights in an asset to another person or entity for a religious or charitable purpose. In a Waqf, the asset cannot be sold, gifted, or otherwise transferred.
What are some famous Waqfs in history?
Notable Waqfs in Islamic History
- The Waqf of Umar RA. Give in Waqf and Spend from Its Produce. ...
- A Billion-dollar Waqf Empire. Read more.
- The Waqf of Zubaidah. ...
- 132-136 Haldon St Lakemba. ...
- A Legacy Spanning Palestine, Lebanon and Turkey. ...
- Al-Azhar University. ...
- The Süleymaniye Complex. ...
- The Waqf of Fatima Al-Fihri.
How much Waqf property is there in India?
As of September 2024, India has 8.7 lakh registered immovable waqf properties. [6], As per the Standing Committee on Social Justice and empowerment (2014), most states had not completed the survey of waqf properties. [8] As per the Ministry of Minority Affairs, India has the largest waqf holding in the world.
How is waqf funded?
When you make an initial donation, of either Sadaqah Jariyah or a Waqf Share, the International Waqf Fund invests the full amount. We then use the returns we receive from this investment to fund projects that support people in need around the world.
What is the full form of saw Allah?
"SAW" or "s.a.w." is an abbreviation of the Arabic phrase "Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam" (صلى الله عليه وسلم), which means "May Allah honor him and grant him peace" or "peace and blessings of Allah be upon him." This honorific is used by Muslims out of respect when mentioning the name of Prophet Muhammad.
What's the difference between waqf and Zakat?
What is the difference between Waqf and Zakat? The law of paying Zakat is mandatory while the law of practice of Waqf is allowed (must) in the Islamic law. Zakat is a duty of issuing certain property to be given to the specified asnaf at a certain rate which is one of the pillars(rukun) found in the Pillars of Islam.