Definition of "waqf" [waqf]

• An inalienable endowment of land that specifies it be used for religious or charitable purposes (noun)

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• "But the contrary-minded, mercurial shah made several magnificent charitable religious donations, called waqf, to support shrines, from which the present exhibition benefits."
• "Before the creation of Israel, as much as one-tenth of all territory in the Holy Land was managed as part of an Islamic endowment known as the waqf, bequeathed by Muslims for religious and charitable purposes."
• "Iraq's Department of Antiquities and the Iraqi Shi'i "waqf", which controls religious heritage sites in the country, has stated that the historic tomb does not belong to Iraq's dwindling Jewish community."