Waqf
From Islamic law
Religious and customary lawProperty
What it means
An endowment in which a person dedicates property (or its income) permanently to a charitable or religious purpose. The property can no longer be sold or inherited.
Why it travels badly
It is often translated as 'trust' or 'endowment', but it is neither exactly. It has its own rules on permanence, the role of a manager (mutawalli) and the purposes allowed, which vary between schools of Islamic law and between countries.
How other systems say it
waqf (wakf)
Regulated by modern statute, with state authorities involved in managing endowments.
waqf
Governed by Islamic law as applied by the courts, with state oversight of endowments.
charitable trust (closest)
A trust for a charitable purpose is similar in result but not in structure.
Tip for translators and students
Keep 'waqf' in the original and gloss it as 'a permanent charitable endowment in Islamic law', rather than just writing 'trust'.
Updated October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
TheLawToKnow Tools’s glossary is an educational overview of the main differences between legal systems. It is not legal advice.
