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International Waqf Conference - Southern Africa 2007, Cape Town.. Messages Message of the President, Islamic Development Bank on the occasion of the International Waqf Conference - Southern Africa 17 August 2007 Dr. Ahmed Mohamed Ali It is a pleasure of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) Group to co-sponsor the International Conference on “Developing Waqf Institutions for Sustainable Community Development and Poverty Eradication: Shari’ ah, Legal and Regulatory Aspects”, in Cape Town, South Africa, jointly organized, during the period August 17-19, 2007, by the Awqaf Foundation of South Africa, the Kuwait Awqaf Public Foundation, and the Islamic Research and Training Institute (IRTI) of the IDB Group. The IDB Group highly appreciates this major event attended by participants from the Southern African Region, including some IDB member countries (Comoros, Mozambique, and Uganda). The purpose of the IDB is to foster the economic development and social progress of its member countries and Muslim communities in non-member countries in accordance with the principles of the Islamic laws. In its continuous effort to respond effectively to the development needs of its member countries and address the numerous challenges facing the Islamic Ummah, the IDB Group adopted in the year 2006 a new Vision entitled “Vision for Human Dignity” that clearly articulates its overarching objective “to become by the year 2020 a world-class development bank, inspired by Islamic principles, that has helped significantly transform the landscape of comprehensive human development in the Muslim world and help it restore its dignity”. Within the framework of this new Vision the IDB’ s mission has been broadened to encompass “promotion of comprehensive human development, with a focus on the priority areas of alleviating poverty, improving health, promoting education, improving governance and prospering the people”.
Being a complete Code of Life, Islam legalizes and encourages establishment of various institutions to enhance social and economic welfare of human being. Zakat and Awqaf are perfect examples of Islamic institutions that can be used to reduce poverty and contribute to the goal of prospering the people. Early Islamic history indicates that Zakat and Awqaf institutions were very effective in taking care of the needy in society. In contemporary times the potential of these institutions has not been sufficiently tapped. Consequently, time has come to further develop these institutions, strengthen them, and revive their important economic and social role throughout the world. In particular both Zakat and Awqaf can be used not only to combat poverty but also to provide health care services and develop education. It is within this perspective that the IDB Group has been deploying efforts to enhance Zaqat and Awqaf institutions. Regarding Awqaf properties and institutions in particular, the IDB established in the early nineties the Awqaf Properties Investment Fund with a view to enhance the role of Awqaf as an important tool for socio-economic development. Furthermore and in response to the call for creating an international Waqf Organization under the auspices of the IDB, the Bank has established the World Waqf Foundation in September 2001. The objective of this foundation is to restore the Waqf Sunna and increase Waqf contribution in economic development programs needed by communities. The primary target of the Foundation is to oversee new and old Waqf extended by owners to the Foundation for safe-keeping, investment, management and spending of proceeds generated according to Islamic Shari’ah.
I am also pleased to inform you that the IDB Group has recently adopted a Policy Paper on Poverty Reduction and is setting up a Solidarity Fund for Poverty Reduction. Emphasis will be laid on development of both Awqaf and Zakat institutions as instruments to be used in combating poverty and the IDB Group will be fully committed to encourage and facilitate the design and implementation of imaginative solutions in this regard.
I am confident that the scientific contributions of the reputed scholars invited to this conference will clarify the concepts, methodologies, and operational aspects of the Waqf. This gathering will be an excellent opportunity to present experiences of some countries and Muslim communities in the field of Waqf, learn from them, and get a better understanding of the challenges and potentials of Waqf as a relevant mechanism for poverty alleviation and community development.
I hope that this timely and important Conference will be able to publicize the noble concept of Waqf and facilitate the revival of its institutions. I keenly look forward to the deliberations of the Conference on topical issues that can help develop community-based organizations in the Southern African Region and effectively contribute in the social welfare and economic development of communities in the region.
I take this opportunity to thank the Awqaf South Africa and co-organizers of this event and all the participants and wish to the Conference plenty of success.
WassaalamU Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah wa Barakatuh
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