Doha, Qatar: The Waqf Studies Centre, affiliated with the General Administration of Endowments at the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, has announced the publication of the ninth volume in its Contemporary Studies Series, titled “The Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Waqf and Charitable Work Terminology”, by Associate Professor of Islamic History and Civilisation,Dr. Atiya Al-Weishi.
The publication is part of the centre’s efforts to enrich the waqf library with specialised scholarly works and provide references that serve researchers, students of knowledge and professionals working in the fields of waqf and charitable work. The dictionary comes in response to the need to standardise concepts and terminology used in the waqf and charitable sectors and present them in an accessible scholarly reference. It aims to enhance accuracy in research and studies and develop a common language among researchers, institutions and specialists in the field.
The book was published with the support of the Waqf Fund for Scientific and Cultural Development at the General Administration of Endowments, which sponsored its printing in fulfilment of the wishes of charitable donors who stipulated in their waqf deeds that beneficial books be printed, alongside the Holy Quran and Prophetic Sunnah, and that knowledge be disseminated and heritage revived in general.
This highlights the distinctive role of waqf in supporting and directing the intellectual, cultural and religious life of Muslim societies. In this context, the Waqf Studies Centre is committed to carefully selecting titles from major works across various academic and Shariah-related fields and ensuring that they are printed to the highest standards for the benefit of students of knowledge, researchers and the general public.
The Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Waqf and Charitable Work Terminology is a specialised scholarly work in which the author has compiled terminology related to waqf and charitable work and arranged it alphabetically for easy reference. It explains the meanings and concepts of the terms and refers readers to relevant sources and references.
The dictionary provides knowledge that helps readers understand terminology used in waqf studies and charitable work. It also supports researchers in accessing concepts in an organised manner, contributes to standardising the scholarly use of terminology and reduces confusion that may arise from differences in meanings or contexts of use.
Dr. Khalid Al-Aoun, Head of the Waqf Studies Centre at the General Administration of Endowments, said the publication of the dictionary is an extension of the centre’s efforts to disseminate scholarly works that serve waqf and charitable work and provide researchers and specialists with dedicated references that help standardise terminology and establish concepts, thereby enhancing the quality of studies and research in the field.
He added that the dictionary represents an important addition to the waqf library as it brings together a wide range of terminology in a single encyclopaedic reference and facilitates access to relevant concepts and definitions, serving postgraduate students, researchers and professionals working in waqf and charitable institutions.
He noted that, through its Contemporary Studies Series, the Waqf Studies Centre seeks to present scholarly publications addressing issues related to waqf and charitable work from diverse perspectives, contributing to greater waqf awareness, revitalising specialised studies and serving researchers and students of knowledge.
The Waqf Fund for Scientific and Cultural Development is one of six specialised channels offered through the Waqf Donors Service Centre to receive endowments from benefactors. At the same time, these channels provide support to various sectors of society.
