Waqf

As a symbol of the Islamic spiritual economy, Waqf has been always present and alive in all aspects of the Islamic countries, and it has attracted the attentions of many researchers of different fields due to its multidimensional functional. Based on their desire for eternity, they defined Waqf in terms of a proverb saying “I benefit from whatever I endow”. In several tourists’ travelogues such as travelogues by Nasir Khusraw, Jean Chardin, etc. has mentioned this spiritual tradition as a humanistic economy showing the effects of Waqf on perceiving the tourist destination. Since the modern generation of tourists look for new experiences, thus obtaining a rich content of this spiritual heritage can satisfy them and help the promotion of humanistic models of economy such as Waqf . In terms of its objective, this is a practical research, and it is descriptive-analytical based on its data collection method. The results are obtained in meta-synthesis of documents, articles and travelogues relation to the Waqf tradition. Indeed, the main objective of this article is to provide the mentioned introduction, promotion and reinforcement to understand the different aspects of Waqf tradition based on the travelogues in order to reinforce the perceived value by the tourists of Iranian cities so that the modeling of these concepts leads to the promotion of this spiritual economy model among the other cultures. The results show that considering the perceivable aspects of Waqf , this intangible heritage can be introduced to the tourists in terms of four main aspects including the emotional, cognitive, functional and social aspects and to promote this spiritual heritage based on the religious background of tourists at the international level with regard to the environmental-humanistic aspects of economy; as in Iranian culture, it is believed that “give bread to everyone who enters this house and don’t ask his faith, because the one who deserves a life for god, deserves a bread for us”.

The history of waqf (endowment) in the Islamic world dates back to old times, and this noble tradition has had a significant impact on Islamic society from its inception. One of the most successful examples of the longevity and effectiveness of waqf institutions in both the Islamic world and globally is Astan-i Quds Razavi. This endowment institution, dedicated to Imam Reza (PBUH), boasts a long-standing historical presence in Iran and, throughout its flourishing existence, has exerted considerable political, social, and economic influence. This article begins with a brief definition of waqf and then examines the establishment of the waqf system within Astan-i Quds Razavi. It traces the institution’s expansion and development over various historical periods, highlighting significant events and milestones. Finally, the study addresses the major impacts this endowment institution has had throughout its history. The research findings reveal that cultural endowments in Astan-i Quds Razavi began with the donation of Qurʾanic manuscripts in the early centuries. From the tenth century onward, with the official establishment of Shiʿism in Iran and the growing significance of Mashhad as the spiritual capital of the Safavids, Astan-i Quds entered a phase of expansion and prosperity as an endowment institution. Its continued development was ensured by the direct administration of the highest ruling authorities throughout different historical periods, as well as the persistent devotion of Imam Reza’s (PBUH) followers across centuries.