Al-Mutawwif: "Awqaf" magazine looks ahead to the future of endowments in the age of artificial intelligence in its 50th issue
The General Secretariat of Waqf announced the publication of the 50th issue of its peer-reviewed, semi-annual academic journal, "Waqf." This milestone marks a historic point in the journal’s 26-year uninterrupted history, establishing it as one of the primary reference points in the fields of waqf studies, charitable work, and volunteerism.
Lina Al-Mutawa, Editor-in-Chief and Director of the Studies, Information, and Documentation Department at the General Secretariat of Waqf, stated that reaching the 50th issue represents a civilizational commitment to the journal’s mission of reviving waqf culture, advancing scientific writing on waqf, and linking it to the requirements of comprehensive community development. She expressed her appreciation for the efforts of the team at the Studies, Information, and Documentation Department, the editorial board, and the contributing researchers.
In outlining the issue’s contents, Al-Mutawa noted that it opens with a scholarly editorial addressing a highly significant contemporary issue titled “Waqf in the Age of Algorithms: The Civilizational Bet Against Digital Alienation.” The research explores the vital role of waqf as a social safety valve and a driver of human solidarity in the face of rising individualism and the digital alienation imposed by contemporary technology.
The issue also includes a collection of academic research papers and articles in both Arabic and English by a select group of academics and specialists. Dr. Suhail Saban’s paper, “The Contribution of Ottoman Court Women to Waqf and Its Role in the Nation’s Renaissance (955–1326 AH / 1451–1908 CE),” reveals the prominent civilizational and social role of women from the Ottoman ruling family in establishing service-oriented, educational, and health-related waqfs. Dr. Muhammad Abbas Al-Sa’idi’s paper, “Waqf and Its Role in Eradicating Illiteracy and Strengthening National Cohesion,” reviews the historical experience of waqf in spreading knowledge, combating ignorance, and consolidating civilizational identity. The Arabic-language research section concludes with Dr. Tariq Abu Tayeh’s paper, “The Problem of Riba (Interest) on Waqf Shares in Commercial Banks and Its Sharia-Compliant Solutions,” which offers a modern jurisprudential and economic approach to investing waqf shares in financial institutions.
In the English-language research section, Dr. Fuad Al-Omar’s paper, “Gulf Waqf: Between Reality and Expectations” (translated by Dr. Ahmad Hamida), provides an analytical study of the current state of the waqf sector in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, along with its prospects for development and integration.
In the articles and book reviews section, Dr. Mahmoud Mustafa Helmy’s article, “Waqf of Easement Rights: An Old Concept with Modern Applications,” sheds light on the potential for leveraging easement rights in urban planning and modern services. Following this, Dr. Issa Al-Qadumi presented a review of Dr. Abdullah bin Nasser Al-Sudhan’s book, “Waqf for the Two Holy Mosques Outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”
Concluding her statement, Al-Mutawa renewed her invitation to all researchers and those interested in waqf and volunteer work to contribute to upcoming issues of the “Waqf” journal in Arabic, English, and French. She emphasized that all journal publications are non-commercial, reflecting a commitment to disseminating waqf culture and making scientific waqf knowledge accessible to all. She also highlighted the availability of electronic copies of the journal’s issues and additional publications from the department on the General Secretariat of Waqf’s website.
