What is called waqf

Question

(1) What is the definition of waqf according to the Shari‘a and fiqh? (2) Are graveyards and madrasas included in the definition of waqf, given that vows (nadhr) made to graves are not vows made to Allah but vows made to other than Allah, which fall under the ruling of prohibition, while vows made to madrasas are neither vows to Allah nor vows to other than Allah — rather, madrasas are established for their educational benefit?

Answer

[ar]الْوَقْفُ هُوَ لُغَةً الْحَبْسُ، وَشَرْعًا حَبْسُ الْعَيْنِ عَلَى حُكْمِ مَالِكِ الْوَاقِفِ وَالتَّصَدُّقُ بِالْمَنْفَعَةِ عِنْدَهُ، وَعِنْدَهُمَا هُوَ حَبْسُهَا عَلَى حُكْمِ مِلْكِ اللهِ تَعَالَى وَصَرْفُ مَنْفَعَتِهَا عَلَى مَنْ أَحَبَّ وَلَوْ غَنِيًّا، فَيَلْزَمُ فَلَا يَجُوزُ لَهُ إِبْطَالُهُ وَلَا يُورَثُ عَنْهُ، وَعَلَيْهِ الْفَتْوَى[/ar] “Waqf linguistically is…

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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