Women’s Involvement in Developing Waqf in Malaysia

Women’s involvement as income seekers has been accepted in the Muslim community, especially in Malaysia. Besides recognizing the need for women to work, Islam also recognizes women’s rights to property ownership. Women are obliged to fulfill the same requirements as men in sharing their wealth with others as a religious duty. For example, those who are wealthy are required to give zakat and alms. Based on history, many female figures from other countries have shared their wealth with the community through waqf (pious endowment), which funds various infrastructures and public facilities. Thus, this chapter analyses women’s involvement in the development of waqf in Malaysia. This was a qualitative study in which the methods of data collection were interviews and documentation. The findings of this research showed that women’s participation in waqf exists in Malaysia. Property donated by women is in the form of land, houses, buildings and cash. The waqf property has value and can generate revenue either through rent or leases. It can also boost economic activities in an area as in the case of Seetee Aishah and Toh Puan Chah waqfs. Moreover, in Malaysia, there is vast potential for women in developing waqf. It was found that waqf funding obtained either through money, land or even buildings could contribute to socio-economic development in Malaysia.