India’s parliament has passed a highly controversial amendment to the Waqf Act, raising alarm across the Muslim world. The bill, spearheaded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist government, aims to alter the structure of waqf management—the sacred Islamic endowment system that funds mosques, Islamic schools, orphanages, and graveyards—by allowing non-Muslims to be part of waqf boards and increasing state oversight over Muslim charitable properties.
What Is Waqf and Why Is It Sacred in Islam?
A waqf is a deeply rooted Islamic tradition wherein Muslims donate property or land for religious or charitable causes, such as building mosques, supporting Islamic education, or providing for the poor and needy. These endowments, considered an act of sadaqah jariyah (ongoing charity), are governed under Shariah law, and any alteration to their sanctity is seen as an attack on Islamic values.
India currently has over 872,000 waqf properties, spanning more than 405,000 hectares, with an estimated value of $14.22 billion. Many of these date back centuries and are the backbone of Muslim community infrastructure.
The Waqf Amendment Bill: What’s Changing?
The Waqf Amendment Bill will:
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- Allow non-Muslims to sit on state waqf boards.
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- Empower government officials to challenge and validate ownership claims over waqf properties.
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- Put historic mosques, shrines, and graveyards—especially those lacking colonial-era documentation—at serious risk of confiscation.
Although the government claims the bill aims to improve transparency and reduce corruption, Muslim leaders and legal experts say it’s a veiled attempt to dismantle Islamic governance of waqf land, opening the door for land grabs by the state and Hindu nationalist groups.
An Attack on Islam and Religious Autonomy
Critics describe the bill as anti-Islamic, discriminatory, and unconstitutional. The opposition in parliament, including Muslim lawmakers and civil rights groups, has condemned the move as a direct violation of religious freedom in India.
Rahul Gandhi, opposition leader, warned:
“The Waqf (Amendment) Bill is a weapon aimed at marginalising Muslims and usurping their personal laws and property rights. It’s an attack on the Constitution and on religious autonomy.”
Legal scholars fear that Islamic institutions may lose control over their land and assets, as district-level officers—often aligned with the ruling party—will now decide the validity of centuries-old Muslim donations.
A Pattern of Targeting Muslims Under Modi’s Rule
Since Narendra Modi took office, India has witnessed a steady rise in policies and rhetoric targeting its 200 million Muslims:
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- Hijab bans,
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- Crackdowns on halal food,
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- Anti-Muslim propaganda during elections,
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- Vigilante attacks on interfaith couples,
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- And now, legislative encroachments on Islamic endowments.
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom recently flagged India for its worsening treatment of minorities, especially Muslims, highlighting “hateful rhetoric and disinformation propagated by Modi’s BJP.”
The Sacred Trust of Muslim Waqf Lands Must Be Protected
This bill is not just a political maneuver; it’s a blow to the heart of Islamic tradition in the Indian subcontinent. For centuries, Muslims in India have protected waqf lands as sacred trusts—meant for Allah’s cause and the welfare of the Ummah. To place these trusts in the hands of those who do not share that belief is to violate their sanctity and purpose.
Muslims around the world must stand united in rejecting this unjust amendment. Protecting waqf properties is not just a legal battle; it is a religious obligation. It is about safeguarding our mosques, our schools, our history, and our future.
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