Give in Waqf and Spend from Its Produce
The Waqf of Umar RA
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Ibn Umar reported:
Umar acquired a land at Khaibar. He came to Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) and sought his advice in regard to it. He said: Allah's Messenger, I have acquired land in Khaibar. I have never acquired property more valuable for me than this, so what do you command me to do with it? Thereupon he (Allah's Apostle) said: If you like, you may keep the corpus intact and give its produce as Sadaqa. So 'Umar gave it as Sadaqa declaring that property must not be sold or inherited or given away as gift. And Umar devoted it to the poor, to the nearest kin, and to the emancipation of slaves, aired in the way of Allah and guests.
Sahih Muslim 1632a
Umar RA’’s waqf set a precedent for the establishment of endowments in Islamic society. It became a model for:
Structuring waqf agreements with clear conditions
Ensuring that the benefits of the waqf continue to serve the community perpetually (sadaqah jariyah).
Emphasising the role of trustees in safeguarding and managing charitable endowments.
This system laid the groundwork for the rich history of awqaf in the Muslim world, contributing to social welfare, education, and public services for centuries.
