Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1
Associate Professor, Department of History, University of Tabriz, Iran
2
Ph.D Candidate in Iranian History, Islamic Studies, University of Tabriz, Iran
10.22034/jiiph.2025.65286.2555
Abstract
Waqf (Endowment) is a charitable donation of property or assets in Islamic law, where the donor relinquishes ownership, and the benefits are used for religious, educational, or social welfare purposes indefinitely. During the Samanid period, waqf played a crucial role in shaping the social, economic, cultural, educational, and religious structures of Khorasan and Transoxiana. Motivated by various factors, different social groups established endowments that funded a wide range of services. Beyond supporting religious and scholarly institutions, waqf contributed to economic stability by financing welfare programs, creating jobs, and redistributing wealth. These efforts improved living standards and helped reduce social inequality. Waqf also played a key role in maintaining ribats and caravanserais, securing trade routes, and protecting borders, which facilitated travel and boosted commerce. A closer look at these aspects reveals that waqf was not only a means of promoting knowledge and culture but also a force for social cohesion and stability. This study explores the foundations and functions of waqf in Khorasan and Transoxiana. Using a descriptive-analytical approach and drawing on historical, geographical, literary, and biographical sources, it examines waqf’s role in the development of mosques, schools, khanqahs, ribats, caravanserais, and urban infrastructure. The study argues that the deep-rooted social and cultural framework of these regions, intertwined with their scientific and economic needs, created the conditions for waqf to flourish. Through endowments, various social groups contributed to education, welfare, and economic growth, reinforcing both social structures and urban development
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