There is a saying that when we die, all good deeds come to an end, except three: (a) ongoing charity; (b) knowledge that benefits others; and (c) a righteous child who prays for his/her parents.
Charitable giving in Malaysia is not new. Malaysians are consistently ever willing to rally together to donate for a good cause, be it to assist war-torn countries to feed their hungry peoples, rebuild schools and orphanages, or even watch live World Cup football matches! Malaysians are very receptive to the mobilisation of resources for worthwhile causes, which is akin to waqf. If this can be properly regulated through an organised, transparent and
accountable framework, waqf could be a unique financial tool for sustainable development, particularly for ailing economies to meet their society’s multifaceted needs.
Can waqf be developed in this direction, given the legal and regulatory framework governing waqf in Malaysia today?