Scientific Journal of New Islamic Civilization Fundamental Studies

Scientific Journal of New Islamic Civilization Fundamental Studies

Examining the Trusteeship of Civilizational Waqfs (Endowments)Across Pre-modern, Modern, and Post-Modern Epochs

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Hassan Ghoronh 1
Azam Babaki rad 2
1 Assistant Professor, Department of Governance, Faculty of Law and Political Sciences, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
2 Assistant Professor, Department of Management, Faculty of Accounting and Management, Islamic Azad University Mashahad, Mashhad, Iran
10.22070/nic.2026.20200.1383
Abstract
Purpose: The tradition of endowment has been a fundamental aspect of pre-modern social systems and a mechanism supported by religion to establish an institutional presence across various social spheres. Waqf (endowment) and its trusteeship have played a significant role in the growth and development of Islamic civilization. Consequently, approaches to Waqf trusteeship and the policies shaping it—past, present, and future—must be critically revisited and reevaluated. This ensures that the historical and contemporary capacities and potentials of Waqf trusteeship are effectively harnessed to revitalize and advance Waqfs within the framework of a renewed Islamic civilization. Selecting the type of endowment and the policies that define the position and cooperative network of endowments are crucial for promoting and sustaining this role. Endowment management is a dynamic and complex process that, if the future of these collaborations and their objectives are not carefully considered, will increase in complexity and intricacy. Therefore, decision-making should focus on determining the primary lines of activities and operations. political and executive actors of endowment and endowment management in the future.
Methodology: This research adopts a processual approach, emphasizing social change and transformation in Waqf trusteeship to reinterpret social science methodology for studying transformation processes. According to this perspective, social science studies include two categories: diffusion and process. This study considers the evolution of endowment over time, focusing on longitudinal data and utilizing participatory process scholarship.
This study emphasizes participant involvement and the analysis of focus group narratives. Due to the historical nature and heterogeneity of the data, the focus group method was examined and reviewed by seven expert researchers specializing in endowment management. During the focus group sessions, concepts were classified and events were highlighted, transforming scattered and diverse data into rich, detailed narrative accounts. To enhance credibility, several criteria were employed: (1) the researcher's active involvement and engagement in understanding existing narratives within the relevant field; (2) confirmation of participants' understanding of the narratives, incorporating their perspectives; and (3) collection and application of feedback and corrections from researchers specializing in endowment management. These narratives are not merely descriptive or anecdotal; rather, they are structured around key events, turning points, and analytical themes to illuminate systemic dynamics.
Findings: The evolution of Waqf trusteeship is examined across three distinct historical periods. These main periods differ significantly from one another.
(1) Pre-modern (Jurisprudential Dominance): During this period, Waqf trusteeship was predominantly governed by Islamic jurisprudence and traditional frameworks.
(2) Modern (Westernized Influence): This era witnessed the integration of bureaucratic and profit-driven systems, imported from Western models, into Waqf governance.
(3) Post-modern (Synthesis of Traditions): The contemporary phase integrates a self-awareness of jurisprudential traditions with a critical engagement with Western institutional experiences. These narratives collectively illuminate the dynamics of transformation and transition in Waqf trusteeship. This period has been examined and analyzed from various perspectives, including the identity of the endowment, the function of the endowments, the intervention of public authorities, and the types of endowments.
Conclusion: A civilizational perspective in the retelling of endowment involves redefining the identity, programs, and activities of endowment based on the values, needs, and perspectives of a specific civilization—in this case, the Islamic-Iranian civilization. This approach goes beyond the symbolic use of cultural elements, aiming to integrate knowledge, technology, and civilizational ethics into endowment structures. The ultimate goal is to harmonize scientific progress with the preservation of cultural and civilizational identity. The historical trajectory of civilizational transformation in Waqf trusteeship highlights the tension and competition between two imported systems: a bureaucratic, profit-oriented organizational model and a jurisprudential system rooted in social and civilizational imperatives. By leveraging insights from previous stages of transformation, governance-oriented knowledge and technology in Waqf trusteeship can transcend bureaucratic constraints, synergize with jurisprudential principles, and guide the civilizational evolution of Waqf practices toward renewed trajectories.
Keywords
Waqf trusteeship
Civilization
Jurisprudential system
Bureaucratic system
Governance
Subjects
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