"Awqaf, also spelled awkaf (singular: waqf/wakf), refers to a charitable endowment system rooted in Islamic law. It involves donating assets – land, money, buildings – to be held in trust for a specific purpose or for the general benefit of society. These assets are meant to be managed in perpetuity, with the generated income funding the designated causes.

Purpose: Awqaf can support a variety of charitable causes, including poverty alleviation, education (religious and secular), healthcare, disaster relief, and environmental initiatives.
Similarities to Endowments: The concept is similar to Western endowments, where a donation is invested and the returns are used for a designated purpose.
Perpetuity: A key feature of awqaf is the emphasis on perpetuity. The donated assets are intended to be held in trust forever, ensuring a continuous source of funding for the designated causes.
Social Impact: Historically, awqaf has played a significant role in financing social services and infrastructure across the Muslim world. It has contributed to building mosques, schools, hospitals, and public spaces.

V některých islámských zemí jako např. v Jordánsku k tomu existuje i ministerstvo.

• Německo-český slovník (Deutsch-Tschechisch)