Waqf Model: Al-Azhar University Forever

Abstract

Al-Azhar University is a prestigious Islamic educational institution located in Cairo Egypt. It is considered one of the oldest universities in the world and is renowned for its focus on Islamic studies. The waqf model of funding, which relies on donations from the community supports Al-Azhar University to maintain its independence and promote high-quality education in Islamic sciences, Arabic language, and other disciplines. However, the Al-Azhar waqf model has faced challenges in recent times, particularly with the decline in traditional sources of funding. In this paper, the author aims to highlight the success of Al-Azhar University as a waqf model for education and promoting the role of waqf in financing education to be a sustainable model for educational institutions, especially in the Islamic world. To further describe the objective, the author used qualitative research methods to analyze the available literature on Al-Azhar University's waqf model and analyze the data using content analysis techniques. The findings of this study revealed that while the waqf model has been instrumental in supporting Al-Azhar University throughout its history, it is facing increasing challenges in the modern era. However, it remains a viable and important source of funding for the university and remains as a prominent waqf model forever.