JEDDAH: Minister of Islamic affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance Saleh Al-Asheikh said the establishment of an independent authority for endowments (awqaf) and its separation from his ministry under a governor at the rank of minister will be announced this Ramadan.

While speaking at a meeting with supervisors of endowments and businessmen organized by the endowments committee of the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Al-Asheikh said awqaf properties will be managed by an independent body while the role of his ministry will be to look into the legal and executive aspects of the endowments without any role in the management of these properties.

“Makkah is considered the mother of endowments in the Kingdom; they are the highest in terms of preservation and investment dealings. Undoubtedly the endowment is a great act of worship; it is also a lofty message,” the minister said.

Muslims have been making endowments in Makkah over the past 14 centuries, but the size of endowments around the Grand Mosque has dwindled, and the charity from endowments has been becoming less over time; this is an indication warranting greater attention to the endowments, the minister added.

The minister, who put the number of such properties in the Kingdom at 124,000, said ‘’a significant number of the properties did not have any document or proof, but the ministry has been striving over the past years to document a considerable number of them to prevent encroachment.’’

The ministry has also established 12 endowment funds related to religious activities, people’s living conditions and national development. One such fund is the Health Fund, he said.

The minister hinted that the ministry conducted a number studies to improve the endowments, but it needs an independent environment with the authority to implement them.

Al-Asheikh said the relationship between the ministry and the chamber has been continuous and permanent, while the businessmen have been advising on methods to run endowment activities.

He also pointed out that a number of conferences were conducted on the development of endowments and the revival of the Sunnah of Waqf.

He said a number of meetings have been held with chambers across the Kingdom.

The meetings helped remove the fears of wealthy people about making endowments in addition to explaining to them the benefit of endowments for them in their spiritual and worldly life.

He said the meeting at the Makkah chamber was fruitful and a number of problems were discussed, and the views of the ministry on issues were explained. The minister will discuss some of the problems that could not be settled at the ministerial level with higher authorities to find solutions.

The minister added that issues related to private endowments were also discussed in the meeting.