Endowment: Why should you know it?

It is gratifying that certain initiatives are being taken to build up endowments of different types, their regulation, registration, revival, and awareness. All these efforts are being made at the government level as well as privately by the people. This is because of the importance of endowment for the society. These endowments shoulder the responsibilities of both the government and the society, particularly for the social security as well as in the interest of the people with limited sources of income. The endowment is an Islamic social and cultural tradition. It is utilised for things which also include education and health. Now this institution is taking a stronger shape to serve the people.

The endowment enjoys high position in Islamic law and Muslim social norms. It is mentioned in several verses of the Holy Quran which explain its social importance and motivates people for it.

The endowment is given utmost importance in day-to-day life in the Sultanate of Oman. The history of endowment in this country dates to the era of Mazin bin Ghadhoub, one of the companions of the holy prophet of Islam. He laid the foundation stone of Al Midhmar Mosque in Wilayat Samayil utilising an endowment made by some other person for the purpose. There is an Imam Warith bin Ka’ab al Kharousi Endowment which is 1,200 years old and still functioning. Endowment is a practice which is continued by the people of Oman same as was done by the holy prophet and his companions. There are 80 types of endowments in the Sultanate of Oman. Some of them are for mosques, libraries, and books. Some are for taking care of orphans and needy people. Some are working in the area of education, others are used for teaching the Holy Quran. You name an area where endowment is required, you would find one already working in the area. It shows that endowment has always been an essential part of the state. Our forefathers never ignored this important institution.

Perhaps, Europeans have also realised the importance of endowment in public life, particularly for education. They also set up endowments worth billions of dollars. These were the endowments which helped in setting up major educational projects. The value of the endowments of Harvard University and Yale University in the United States is around $40 million. The endowment of Oxford University and Cambridge University is also millions of dollars. This has helped in research, development, innovations, and creativity.

In the Sultanate of Oman, the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs is doing extraordinary work in the area. The efforts being made by the ministry will help in achieving the Oman Vision 2040.

The laws about endowments, which is also known in Arabic as Awqaf, was issued under the Royal Decree number 2000/65. It was amended with a decree number 2013/54. In 2019, a guide for governance of the endowments was brought out. The ministry is currently working to further develop it. According to data, there are more than 28,000 endowments in the country. It shows that the individuals and the society know its importance and are registering it. However, we still need to launch a drive to create more awareness about the importance of the endowment or Awqaf.