A modern revival of waqf for funeral support

In 16th-century Cairo, waqf deeds quietly sustained entire communities. They paid for schools, hospitals, burial shrouds, soup kitchens, and inns for travelers.

A waqf, by definition, is an Islamic endowment locked in perpetuity for the public good. It wasn’t reserved for the wealthy. Middle-class families, artisans, and widows gave what they could to serve the living and the dead.

Today, that tradition feels like a thing of the past. But its spirit is deeply needed, perhaps now more so than ever, especially as many families struggle with the cost of dying.

In Egypt, families can spend over a month’s salary on burial expenses. In Jordan, funeral costs often exceed six weeks’ wages for the average household. In Morocco, the death of a family breadwinner can wipe out savings, forcing families to borrow or seek help.

The emotional weight of losing a loved one is heavy enough. But the added financial burden can turn grief into crisis.

This raises an important point: What if we cared for death like we once cared for life? Together.

A tradition that sustained communities
Waqf systems were more than charity. They were the building blocks of the community and its infrastructure.