The Discretionary waqf simply means that the donor transfers the decision making to the Council of Mutawallees (Trustees). The Council of Mutawalles will decide from time to time as to the priority needs and avenues in which the income generated from Discretionary Waqfs should be spent.
The types of projects or programmes are very vast and could range from providing funding for skills development, tree planting, education projects to providing assistance to a poor madressah or providing awards to outstanding learners for top achievement.
Unless specified and designated by the Waqif/ah, the general rule that Awqaf SA applies is that all Waqfs are discretionary.
In the long term, it is better to give discretion to the Council Of Mutawallees as circumstances may change and/or designated purposes may be invalid in time or may no longer rank as a needs or priorities.
Designated Waqfs
A designated Waqf is a charitable endowment in which the donor specifies the special purpose of the Waqf and/or specific beneficiaries. Designated waqfs are made where the donor has a passion for a particular cause or project. For example, the donor may direct that the waqf should be solely for the development of food, trees, and water projects and that the beneficiaries should be from a particular locality. There are several potential designated Waqfs – it depends entirely on the donor/ waqif/ah.
Awqaf SA has devised several categories of designated waqfs. They range from specific community development sectors to specific or special projects.
Categories of Designated Waqfs
Sector & Project Waqfs
Community Waqfs
Organisation & Institution Waqfs
Capacity Building Waqfs
Family Waqfs
Group Waqfs
Waqfs may be made for specific communities, projects, families, organisations, institutions, or capacity building.
Awqaf SA takes a holistic view of community development and realises that there are several needs within a community. These needs fall within certain sectors, and which, if taken together, will help empower communities.
Sector Waqfs to fund projects within the respective sectors:
Education
Education
Health
Art, Culture & Heritage
Social Care & Welfare
Trade & Commerce
Governance
Media & Publications
Dawah, Masjid & Madressah
Environment
Security & Emergency
Sport & Recreation
Research & Development
Hajj & Umrah