Waqf; One of Best Ways to Finance Propagation of Religion
Waqf has a long history and has been recommended in Islam as a good tradition. The development of economic issues and their complexity has made the role of Waqf in economic development even more obvious.
Hojat-ol-Islam Seyed Kazem Rajaei, a faculty member of the Imam Khomeini Educational and Research Institute, in an interview with IQNA highlighted the importance of promoting the culture Waqf in society. Excerpts from the interview are as follows:
Waqf is actually a link between people’s great financial potentials and philanthropist activities. Education, monotheistic training, promoting Islamic teachings, printing Quran and publishing religious books as well as training religious propagators are among issues that can be financed by Waqf.
It was the policy of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) to link financing religious projects as well as defense to people. The people’s financing power is enormous and an example of it can be witnessed in the annual Arbaeen march.
One of the main sources of motivation for people when it comes to Waqf is their monotheistic training. Waqf is an act that God likes and there should be a sacred motivation for guiding people toward it.
Another important thing is the need for transparency on how endowed properties are run and used. The custodians of endowed properties must use what is earned from them exactly in line with how the Waqif (benefactor) intended.
Today we can add new areas like promoting the Quran via the cyberspace, building Quranic schools, etc to the list of areas of Waqf. There is also a need for new Waqfs in the field of establishing think tanks for promoting Islamic teachings.
The Holy Prophet (PBUH) and Imam Ali (AS) made the most of the potentials of Waqf and our society today needs to use them as well.
