Waqf: understanding the charitable endowment and its current forms
AmanaFi team · Updated · 1 min read
A waqf, called habous in Morocco, means setting an asset aside so its use or income lastingly serves a cause of general interest. The capital is preserved; only the profit is distributed.
The principle
An asset (land, building, fund, books) is permanently assigned to a purpose: mosque, school, healthcare, help for families. In principle it cannot be sold or inherited, and its income is spent according to the donor's wishes.
Current forms
Alongside property, waqf funds let several people contribute together.
- Property waqf: a building rented out for a charity.
- Cash waqf: a fund invested lawfully, whose gains finance a cause.
- Knowledge waqf: a library, a chair, a scholarship programme.
Contributing carefully
Choose a recognised institution that manages the fund transparently, publishes accounts and respects donors' wishes. In Morocco, waqf falls under the legal framework of habous: ask the competent institutions before committing.
Frequently asked
Can I create a waqf with a small sum?
Yes, by taking part in a collective waqf fund. Several small contributions add up and the capital stays invested lastingly.
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