About Organization

The word “Waqf” (Arabic: وقف‎‎) also known as habous has its origin in the Arabic word “Waqafa” meaning thereby to detain or to hold or tie up. It is said that once second Khalifa Omar acquired a piece of land in Khaibar and asked the prophet Mohammed as how best to make the most pious use of it. The prophet said “Tie up the property and devote the usufruct to the welfare of human beings, and it is not to be sold or made the subject of gift or inheritance, devote its produce to your children, your kindred and the poor and in the way of Allah”.

During the administration of Mughals in the later stage, Aurangazeb codified the Muslim Laws including the Laws on Waqf through, “Fatawai-E- Alamgiri” which was valid till the period of the Privy Council in the British age.

1 .Waqf- the legal background:-

In India, the Musalman Waqf Validating Act, 1913, the Musalman Waqf Act. 1923 were in vogue in the British period during the Privy Council. The Bengal Waqf Act, 1934, came into existence and thereafter , the Waqf Act, 1954 (Central Act) was in force except in West Bengal where the Bengal Waqf Act, 1934 was in force till the Promulgation of the Waqf Act, 1995 (Central Act).

The Waqf Act 1995 defines the Waqf as the permanent dedication by any person of movable or immovable property for any purpose recognized by the Muslim law as pious, religious or charitable. The properties so dedicated are called Waqf .The person who so dedicates his or her property is known as Waqif and the person who manages such property is known as Mutawalli (manager and administrator).

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