Islamic Commercial Law in Action: A Look into AAOIFI’s Sharīʿah Standard on Waqf

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to analyse the Sharīʿah Basis of AAOIFI’s Sharīʿah Standard No. (60) – “Waqf” and gain an insight into the Islamic jurisprudential schools of thought depended on while drafting/issuing the standard.

Design/methodology/approach: This research uses a qualitative methodology and AAOIFI’s Sharīʿah Standard No. (60) – “Waqf” as a case study. This is referred to as a single/holistic case study design.

Findings: The findings of this study reveal that while AAOIFI’s Sharīʿah Standard No. (60) – “Waqf” did depend on the Maliki school of fiqh, it certainly referenced other jurisprudential schools of thought, such as Ḥanafī and Shāfiʿī schools of law. This raised a question of legal pluralism and how contemporary Sharīʿah jurisconsults are able to select rulings within particular Islamic jurisprudential schools to fit current needs and for the overall betterment of society.

Research limitations/implications: This research does not delve into the technical aspects of AAOIFI’s waqf standard (furūʿ al-fiqh), but rather, is limited to understanding the basis of rulings therein and the jurisprudential schools of thought heavily depended on.

Originality/value: Given that the (revised) AAOIFI waqf standard is relatively new, limited studies have been conducted particularly focusing on the basis of Sharīʿah rulings therein. This research contributes to knowledge by providing one of the starting points to deliberate on this matter.