Central Khutbah: The Legacy of a Sincere Waqf Endures Until the Day of Judgment
One of the most important questions every human being should ask themselves is this: What will remain of me when I leave this world? Which of my deeds will continue to bear fruit when my ability to act has come to an end, when the pages of my life have been closed, and when I can no longer perform any new good deeds?
Allah, the Most High, says:
﴿إِنَّا نَحْنُ نُحْيِ الْمَوْتَىٰ وَنَكْتُبُ مَا قَدَّمُوا وَآثَارَهُمْ﴾
“Indeed, it is We who bring the dead to life and record what they have sent forth and the traces they have left behind.” (Yā-Sīn, 12)
This Qur’anic verse opens up a particularly important dimension of human responsibility. Allah mentions not only the deeds we have performed directly, but also the traces they leave behind. Human life comes to an end with death, but the consequences of our actions do not necessarily disappear with us. The good we have initiated may continue to benefit generations we will never know. Likewise, the evil we leave behind may continue to produce harmful consequences after our departure.
It is precisely from this perspective that we understand the greatness of the waqf, or Islamic charitable endowment. The waqf is one of the noblest means by which a person can transform the limited duration of their earthly life into a lasting benefit for others and a source of hope for reward in the Hereafter.
The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said:
«إِذَا مَاتَ الْإِنْسَانُ انْقَطَعَ عَنْهُ عَمَلُهُ إِلَّا مِنْ ثَلَاثَةٍ: إِلَّا مِنْ صَدَقَةٍ جَارِيَةٍ، أَوْ عِلْمٍ يُنْتَفَعُ بِهِ، أَوْ وَلَدٍ صَالِحٍ يَدْعُو لَهُ»
“When a human being dies, their deeds come to an end except for three: an ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge from which people continue to benefit, or a righteous child who supplicates for them.” (Narrated by Muslim)
Muslim scholars specifically identify the waqf as one of the clearest forms of ongoing charity (sadaqah jāriyah). Its distinctive characteristic lies in the preservation of the endowed asset itself, while its income or benefits continue to serve people. In this way, a single act of charity can become a source of countless good deeds.
When ‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb, may Allah be pleased with him, acquired a valuable piece of land in Khaybar, he went to the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, to seek his advice on how to use it. The Prophet replied:
«إِنْ شِئْتَ حَبَسْتَ أَصْلَهَا وَتَصَدَّقْتَ بِهَا»
“If you wish, preserve the property itself and give its proceeds in charity.” (Narrated by al-Bukhārī and Muslim)
‘Umar followed this advice. He dedicated the land as a waqf, designated its beneficiaries, and established the rules governing its use. In doing so, he set a remarkable example of responsible stewardship of material wealth: what a person owns does not necessarily have to serve only themselves and their family, but can become a lasting asset dedicated to the service of the entire community.
Consider how many generations of Muslims have learned the Qur’an in mosques built by individuals whose names may now have been forgotten. How many children have acquired knowledge in educational institutions established through the sincere waqf of a benefactor? How many travelers have found shelter, how many poor people have received assistance, and how many students have gained access to education thanks to individuals who understood that material wealth acquires its greatest value when placed in the service of good?
Today, we ourselves benefit from the fruits of the generosity of those who came before us. We use mosques, educational institutions, and other facilities that came into existence because of their awareness of their responsibility toward future generations. They could not have known who would one day benefit from their charitable endowments, but they knew to Whom they were entrusting their deeds. Their hope rested upon seeking the pleasure of Allah, not the recognition of people.
This is why the value of a waqf cannot be measured solely by its material worth. Sometimes, a modest contribution, made with sincerity and at the right moment, can become the foundation of a good that endures for centuries.
Allah, the Most High, says:
﴿وَمَا تُقَدِّمُوا لِأَنْفُسِكُمْ مِنْ خَيْرٍ تَجِدُوهُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ﴾
“Whatever good you send forth for yourselves, you will find it with Allah.” (Al-Baqarah, 110)
This verse teaches us that whatever we give in the cause of Allah is never truly lost. On the contrary, we have sent it ahead of us to the place where we will need it most.
It is particularly important to understand that the waqf is not limited to the construction of buildings. It is also founded upon a vision, trust, a sense of responsibility, and an organized commitment to serving others. Assets dedicated as waqf represent a sacred trust (amānah) that must be preserved, developed, and used in accordance with the intention of the donor (wāqif) and the principles of Islamic law. It is not enough simply to establish a waqf; we must also ensure that the endowed property genuinely fulfills the purpose for which it was dedicated.
In our time, particularly within Muslim communities in Europe, the need for such an understanding of waqf is immense. Our mosques must be places of worship, knowledge transmission, education, and community gathering. Our children need spaces where they can learn their religion, develop their identity, and become responsible members of society. Our communities need stable institutions whose existence does not depend solely on temporary circumstances or the enthusiasm of a few individuals.
Thus, the waqf is both an expression of our faith and a manifestation of our responsibility toward the future. We are not building merely for ourselves today, but also for those who will come after us.
However, one essential quality must precede the establishment of every waqf: sincerity.
The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said:
«إِنَّمَا الْأَعْمَالُ بِالنِّيَّاتِ»
“Actions are judged by intentions.” (Narrated by al-Bukhārī and Muslim)
The waqf is not a means of self-promotion or an opportunity to gain social prestige. Its essence lies in drawing closer to Allah through acts of kindness and generosity toward His creation. The endowed assets may be substantial, the buildings magnificent, and the donor’s name widely known, but the ultimate value of the deed in the sight of Allah depends upon the sincerity of the intention and the conformity of the action to His commandments.
This is why we must ask ourselves not only how much we are willing to give, but also what kind of good we wish to leave behind. Will our contribution enable someone to learn how to perform the prayer? Will it give a child the opportunity to learn the Qur’an? Will it help protect a family, educate a young person, or strengthen a community?
A person may not live long enough to witness all the fruits of their waqf. Perhaps their children, grandchildren, or individuals born many years after their death will benefit from the good they have left behind. Yet this is precisely where one of the most beautiful characteristics of ongoing charity lies: its benefits extend beyond the lifetime of the person who offered it.
Dear brothers and sisters, our life in this world has an end, but the opportunity to leave behind a good that will outlive us is available to us today. Not everyone has the means to dedicate substantial wealth as a waqf, but everyone can contribute, according to their abilities, to the establishment and preservation of a lasting benefit.
We must not forget that many great institutions began with modest beginnings, sincere intentions, and the determination of individuals who were willing to assume their responsibilities together. What constitutes our duty today may become a blessing for future generations tomorrow.
Therefore, when we speak about waqf, we are not merely speaking about material assets that remain after the passing of their owner. We are speaking about faith expressed through action, responsibility that extends beyond the individual, and charity whose fruits may continue to multiply until the Day of Judgment.
The legacy of a sincere waqf may endure until the Day of Judgment, and its greatest value will be revealed when its donor finds, with Allah, the reward for the good they have left behind.
We ask Allah, the Most High, to make us among those who leave behind beneficial traces, to accept our charitable endowments and good deeds, to grant us sincerity in our intentions, and to make the good we accomplish a means of attaining His pleasure and our salvation in the Hereafter.
Amin.
(Central khutbah by the Muslim Religious Leader Hafiz Hilmija Redžić on October 30, 2026, at the “Association Islamique de Wiltz/Luxembourg” in Wiltz)
