A Fiqhi and Legal Examination of Endowments (Waqf) in the Northern Forests of Iran

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Assistant Professor of Fiqh and Fundamentals of Islamic Law, Islamic Azad University, Babol Branch, Babol, Iran

2 PhD student in Fiqh and Fundamentals of Islamic Law, Babol Branch, Islamic Azad University, Babol, Iran.

3 Assistant Professor of Fiqh and Fundamentals of Islamic Law, Babol Branch, Islamic Azad University, Babol, Iran.

Abstract

In Islamic jurisprudence, specific rulings have been established regarding natural resources, particularly forests and rangelands. According to the majority of Shia jurists, natural resources including mountains, valleys, hilltops, marshes, rangelands, and forests are considered part of the "public goods" (anfal) and are under the ownership of the Imam (peace be upon him). A waqf (endowment) of rangeland or forest is only valid and legitimate if the person establishing the waqf was involved in the creation of that forest or rangeland. The inhabitants of the northern forests of Iran and other forested areas of the country have had a centuries-old history of residence in the forests, as evidenced by historical records and ancient artifacts discovered throughout the northern provinces and similar locations. This sense of ownership over the forested lands led some believers to endow the forest lands under their control for various purposes. However, through the enactment of the Law on the Nationalization of Forests, the status of these forest land endowments was challenged. The law recognized the validity of endowments established prior to the enactment of this law but did not acknowledge endowments created thereafter, on the grounds that they involved the endowment of property that did not belong to the endower. This applied research, based on Fiqhi and legal sources and recruiting content analysis, examines the validity of endowments of forest lands after the enactment of the Law on the Nationalization of Forests. Findings indicate that the tradition of waqf and votive offerings in Iran is as old as the history of its inhabitants. Since the monotheistic people of Iran considered themselves the owners of the forested areas under their control, they endowed their properties within these areas. In this case, from the perspective of Fiqh and common law, the endowment of lands within these areas, which have been validly established according to Fiqh and contemporary legislation, should not be undermined on the pretext of them being part of the "public goods" or the nationalization of rangelands and forests.

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Main Subjects

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  • Receive Date: 05 May 2024
  • Revise Date: 26 July 2024
  • Accept Date: 12 May 2024

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