Establishment of Awqaf for resolving the onerous issues of the Society
Islam is the religion of nature, a complete way of life. Its teachings are a guarantee for the success of mankind in this world and hereafter. The teachings and principles of Islam are so complete and compact, for every walk of life from faith and worship upto moral character and behaviour that by adopting and following them, one not only gets assured of benefits of Akhirah (the life hereafter), his life becomes peaceful, happy and satiating in this world too. As a matter of fact the complete and consummate teachings of Islam vis-à-vis finance and economy would definitely lead to social equality and a sound economic balance. Furthermore, the needs and necessities of people belonging to each and every social strata gets fulfilled in a just and fair manner.
Islam has given clear guidance about uplifting the poor and needy sections and individuals of the society, fulfilling their basic needs. Implementing and acting upon such teachings at individual and collective levels would certainly provide support to poor and the downtrodden sections. They can become self-dependent. Moreover, not only their economic condition improves, rather academic and mental level also develop considerably.
The Waqf has a paramount role to play in the economic set-up of Islam. The significance of Waqf has been retold in a number of Ahadeeth and traditions. It has been greatly emphasized and declared as a Sadaqat-ul- Jariyah (Continuous Charity). Since time immemorial, the Islamic Awqaf has played a vital role in fulfilling the needs and necessities of the poor and the needy, making them financially self-dependent, imparting education to Muslims, serving the sick and the disabled and financially aiding the men of letters, in the perspective of Islamic history throughout every era. The well-endowed, wealthy Muslims have been instrumental in establishing small and big Awqaf for the purpose of different religious, academic, social and welfare objectives, throughout the epochs of time. Through these Awqaf, several such prominent tasks and issues used to be tackled which currently fall under the purview of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health and Family Affairs.
In this perspective, emphasis should be laid upon making the Muslims inclined towards establishing new Awqaf besides safeguarding the existing ones. Infact, efforts should be made to spur such inclinations so that the tradition of Waqf (which holds enormous benefits not only for the Muslim society but the entire mankind), continue to be promoted.
Several such areas have been marked on the national as well as international levels, for which the establishment of Awqaf and laying a solid foundation for them has become indispensable. With these ideas in view, the following viewpoints are being put forth for your kind deliberation, so that we may enrich ourselves with your academic and ideological excellence. Besides, a few such suggestions or recommendations may be presented during the 14th Fiqhi Seminar in the light or your valuable deliberations which would be a guiding light for the Ummah in general.
(1) Awqaf for divorcees and widows
A very important and pertinent issues of contemporary times refers to divorcees and widows, who are extremely weak and helpless in financial terms. Since the Islamic system is not functional in the Muslim society as a whole, those relatives and dear ones who are dutibound to help such helpless women monetarily and can very well support them, often, shy way from their responsibilities. Consequently, not only divorcees and widows belonging to weaker sections of the society, often, even those form respectable and wealthy families also become victims of financial crisis leading to abject poverty. Those women are seduced by the dreams of wealth and a respectable life and in the process, undue advantage is taken out of their situation. Ultimately, they are forced to take up illegal and immoral courses. Sometimes, the feminist and women-lib’ organisations lay their hands on them and make a mockery of Islamic teachings in the courts of law and the national press, using them as an instrument. Under such precarious circumstances, is it not appropriate to establish such Awqaf in different cities and areas of the country, which would provide economic self-dependence to such women who are ridden with destitution and hunger, so that they may not have to bear the brunt of circumstances?
(2) Awqaf for educational objectives
The percentage of literacy and education is conspicously low amongst Muslims as compared to other communities. Because of illiteracy and ignorance, Muslims are involved in various kinds of social vices and malpractices. There is a general feeling that Muslims are extremely backwards in terms of literacy and level of education when compared with other communities. A lot of our children remain devoid of religious education while their level of progress in the field of contemporary education is also quite dismal, although the intelligence levels and academic as well as ideological skills bestowed by Allah, the Almighty to the children and youth of this Ummah is in no way inferior to those belonging to other communities. Broadly speaking, our intelligent and prudent children who can compete and carve their own niche in the field of knowledge, remain bereft of the pearls of knowledge because of economic turbulence. In this perspective, often we tend to realize the immense need of organised Awqaf for the purpose of academic pursuits. They should have been so systematically structured that no child of ours would be deprived of the religious or contemporary education because of financial problems. Further, our emphasis should have been on providing all the requisite facilities and means to our brilliant children for pursuing higher education so that they may be equally competent along with those belonging to other communities in the prevailing tough times. In this respect, you are requested to kindly make us abreast with all the suggestions or recommendations about the significance of the Educational Awqaf and its various aspects.
(3) Awqaf for Patients
In present times, a considerable amount of a person’s income is getting spent on treatments and health-related matters. The expenses for treatments is soaring up continuously. Often, it becomes difficult even for the financially sound people to bear their own expenses. To cite an example, the costs of medicines and treatment for chronic and serious ailments (e.g. Cancer, AIDS, etc) is incalculably mammoth, which becomes quite difficult to be borne by the well-to-do sections of the society also.
The number of patients afflicted with such ailments and unable to cope up with the spiraling expenses, is constantly on the rise in our society today. Islam is the religion of blessings. Serving the mankind and providing solace is an essential component of its teachings. Awqaf for patients also used to be set up during the Muslim rules. Such Awqaf have got reduced in number these days. Now, the need for establishing such Awqaf is being immensely felt, more so with respect to the people afflicted with serious ailments (such as Cancer, etc.), who are practically unable to afford the heavy costs of medicines and treatment. Under this proposal, several hospitals, medical centers, etc. with satisfactory arrangements of treatment and medication need to be established. Kindly do enlighten us with your views on the establishment of Awqaf in the fields of health and medicine and the organisational set-ups for its effective functioning, in the light of the Holy Quran, Sunnah and the Islamic Fiqh.
(4) Awqaf for upholding the Shariah and Religious “Dawah”
Various kinds of Awqaf can also be established for the purpose of several other vital objectives such as Tableegh and Dawah, teaching and training, jounalism and communication, safeguarding the religion, etc. In a nutshell, the objectives and tasks for which Awqaf need to be established in the background of the prevailing circumstances of today and their challenges as well as the ways and methods which could be taken up or implemented to make the Awqaf better-equipped and more effective should be earmarked. In this respect, we would be highly pleased to receive your valuable suggestions in order to get enlightened by your scholarly ideas.