The video is a bit slow to start and speaks to a somewhat unsophisticated audience, but it introduces an important concept of charity in Islam (sadaqah jariyah), and why Muslims should support “Waqf” –– for the environment’s sake. Or at the very least political stability.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature Waqf is an Islamic endowment, a model by which one makes a voluntary, permanent and irrevocable dedication of a portion of one’s wealth – in cash or kind, for a certain purpose for certain beneficiaries.
Once assets are set aside for Waqf, they can never be gifted, inherited or sold.
The idea here is that the capital remains intact, and the yield of investment is used for the beneficiaries. Hence the concept of sustainability is ensured.
Similar models of charity are put into practice in Judaism and fall under what the Jews call “tzedaka.”
The video above introduces the idea of a Waqf fund, a flexible and innovative financing mechanism targeting solving water problems in the Middle East region.
The concept of Waqf fund is similar to trust funds where the capital for the Waqf is invested and the returns on investments are utilized for activities related to conservation.
Sounds very similar to microfinance loans, now being put to use in Israel in areas from the environment to social good.
Now let’s see some action. Start a wakf for water, for organic food, for permaculture, for greener energy. And report back to us!
Muslims Should “Waqf” for Water Because It’s Good for the Environment http://tinyurl.com/5674t8