Held in Trust by Pascale Ghazaleh, Hardcover | Indigo Chapters

New studies examining the religious endowments that have historically played a variety of important roles in Muslim communitiesWaqfs (pious endowments) long held a crucial place in the political, economic, and social life of the Islamic world. Waqfs were major sources of education, health care, and employment; they shaped the city and contributed to the upkeep of religious edifices. They constituted a major resource, andtheir status was at stake in repeated struggles to impose competing definitions of legitimacy and community. Closer examination of the diverse legal, institutional, and practical aspects of waqfs in different regions and communities is necessary to a deeper understanding of their dynamism and resilience. This volume, which evolved from papers delivered at the 2005 American University in Cairo AnnualHistory Seminar, offers a meticulous set of studies that fills a gap in our knowledge of waqf and its uses. | Held in Trust by Pascale Ghazaleh, Hardcover | Indigo Chapters