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What is waqf and how does it work in Canada?

Waqf is a perpetual charitable endowment.

Draft — pending review. This page has been prepared but has not yet been reviewed by a Canadian estates lawyer or a qualified scholar. Treat it as a starting point for questions, not as advice you should act on.

Waqf is a perpetual charitable endowment.

The Canadian position

The nearest Canadian vehicles are the charitable trust and the registered charity.

Canadian law gives effect to whatever a valid will says, so an Islamic concept takes effect here through the drafting rather than automatically.

The Islamic position

Property is dedicated permanently, so it leaves the estate and is not divided by the shares.

Confirm the position for your own family and school with a qualified scholar rather than relying on a general summary.

Across the madhahib

The four Sunni schools are not recorded as differing materially on this point in the sources reviewed. Where your own case turns on it, put it to a scholar of your school.

Before you act on this

General information, not legal or religious advice. Inheritance depends entirely on the exact family circumstances. Confirm the Canadian position with a lawyer in your province and any religious ruling with a qualified scholar.

Citations & sources

Every factual claim on this page traces to one of the references below. Legislation and dollar thresholds change — verify against the primary source before relying on any figure.

Islamic primary sources
  1. Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 55: Wills and Testaments (Wasaya) — Sunnah.com
  2. Sahih Muslim, Book of Wills — Sunnah.com
Scholarly & institutional references
  1. Research Papers — Cambridge Muslim College
  2. Research — Cambridge Muslim College
  3. Academics — Islamic law and theology curriculum — Zaytuna College
  4. Encyclopaedia of Islam — Brill
Canadian legislation & government
  1. T3 Trust Guide — Canada Revenue Agency
Canadian legal commentary
  1. Pet guardian vs pet trust ontario comparison — Treadstone Law
  2. Trust for disabled adult child not on odsp ontario — Treadstone Law
  3. Odsp disqualified inheritance without henson trust ontario — Treadstone Law
  4. Three certainties valid trust ontario — Treadstone Law
  5. Lawyer trust ledger after closing ontario — Treadstone Law
  6. Refinancing property held in trust ontario — Treadstone Law
  7. Wills & estates practice — Treadstone Law