The Mohsin Fund: Reviving The Waqf Properties In India
By New Age Islam Staff Writer
2 May 2025
This article explores the innovative work of the Mohsin Fund, a grassroots initiative in Gujarat that is reviving neglected Waqf properties—Islamic charitable endowments—by turning them into functional community assets like student hostels and training centres. Amid widespread mismanagement and encroachment of Waqf lands across India, the Mohsin Fund stands out as a successful, transparent, and sustainable model led by ordinary citizens. It highlights how collective community action, rooted in Islamic principles and aided by modern tools, can reclaim these valuable resources for education, healthcare, and social upliftment, offering a replicable blueprint for waqf reform across the country.
Major Points:
1. The Mohsin Fund was initiated by the Quran Foundation, a Gujarat-based non-profit organisation headed by Dr. Shakeel Ahmed. The fund is being named after Syedna Mohsin, a man renowned for assisting others and being kind.
2. The concept is simple but powerful: if the government won't or can't revive these waqf assets, then the community should step in and do it themselves.
3. The Mohsin Fund has shown that even a small number of people with community leaders, transparent procedures, and a strong goal can revive Waqf properties and utilise them in the community's interest.
4. This model sets the trend not just for Muslims in Gujarat but for all Indians.
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Muhammad Mohsin
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There are many acres of land in India that are vacant, deserted, or inhabited by others, although they are public. Such types of lands are referred to as Waqf properties, which are donated in an Islamic manner for religion and charity. Ideally, these lands could have been utilised to educate children, provide shelter to homeless individuals, or provide medical care to the poor. But the majority of these lands are plagued by mismanagement, corruption, and neglect.
But something extraordinary is happening in Gujarat. A community initiative called the Mohsin Fund is demonstrating how these forgotten Waqf properties can be renovated and reused as useful facilities for the Muslim community. The project's success offers a means to enhance Waqf properties throughout India—without waiting an eternity for the government to move.
The Beginning of a New Idea
The Mohsin Fund was initiated by the Quran Foundation, a Gujarat-based non-profit organisation headed by Dr. Shakeel Ahmed. The fund is being named after Syedna Mohsin, a man renowned for assisting others and being kind. The concept is simple but powerful: if the government won't or can't revive these Waqf assets, then the community should step in and do it themselves.
Right from the start, the Fund was founded on Islamic principles of beneficence, honesty, and public service. It was built on the original concept of Waqf—using land or property to benefit society and please God. The initiators of the Mohsin Fund believed that these principles could be combined with contemporary tools such as online transparency, building architecture, and local involvement to convert abandoned waqf land into meaningful projects.
Taking Charge of Their Own Lives
The Mohsin Fund began searching for vacant Waqf lands in cities and towns in Gujarat, rather than awaiting Waqf boards or government departments to initiate the search. The team approached the local community, donors, and friends for funds. The funds did not originate from prosperous businesspeople or politicians, but from ordinary individuals—teachers, shopkeepers, drivers, and housewives—each contributing what they could.
The funds were invested in legal fees, planning development, building, and outreach to the community. Each rupee was accounted for and disclosed. The Foundation employed websites, social media, and public forums to demonstrate to people how their contributions were being used. Transparency facilitated trust and the recruitment of more supporters to the cause.
A Real Success Story: The Hostel in Bharuch
The Mohsin Fund's finest work so far has been done in Bharuch, Gujarat. There was a Waqf property which had been lying empty and unused for years. Rather than letting it deteriorate, the Mohsin Fund stepped in and converted it into a hostel for Muslim students from the backward regions.
This hostel is not just a place to sleep. It also provides coaching, scholarships, career guidance, and a library. The concept is to assist students who would otherwise not be able to continue their education or are forced to live in sub-standard facilities. The hostel is operated professionally and with concern, with a clean and safe environment to study and develop. It is also made self-financing, with the students contributing a small monthly fee to cover the basic expenses, so that it will not be so dependent on donations in the long run.
The Bharuch project is a good example of how Waqf land can be developed in the interest of the people. It has made many think about Waqf and what can be done with it if used efficiently.
The Larger Issue Of Waqf In India
India has over six hundred thousand acres of waqf property, and it is the country's largest source of charity property. However, the majority of these properties are in the possession of others or are lying dormant. Most of the Waqf boards that are responsible for managing and safeguarding these properties are also beset with issues such as insufficient funds, poor management, or even corruption.
The 2006 Sachar Committee Report states that if utilised to their potential, the Waqf properties would generate thousands of crores of rupees annually. These funds could be utilised to construct schools, hospitals, and houses for poor people. These properties have become symbols of lost opportunity.
The Mohsin Fund is an exemplary case of how things can work when average citizens stop waiting for the government and begin creating solutions on their own. It shows that even little things can make a difference if done in good faith, thought, and supported by the people.
What Sets the Mohsin Fund Apart
The Mohsin Fund stands out in that it foregrounds the community. It sees Waqf as our common good, not as a matter of law or something to be resolved by the state. The team does not hold back and wait for officials or politicians to act. They take initiative and carry out the crucial work themselves—carrying out surveys, demystifying legal titles, and constructing buildings that address real needs. The Mohsin Fund is different from most projects that fail because they are mismanaged or not followed through on. It does everything it can to keep the public's trust. It provides donors and beneficiaries with all the information, including building budgets and schedules. Transparency like this is not common and has proven to be one of the fund's biggest assets.
Another important aspect is its emphasis on sustainability. The emphasis is not on establishing free services that will be operating at a loss in a few years but establishing institutions that will be self-sustaining. Whether a hostel, clinic, or training centre, all projects are established to fund their own basic expenses in the long term. This helps the fund avoid constantly having to raise funds and makes its work more sustainable.
Challenges During the Journey
The Mohsin Fund has done well but has faced a lot of difficulties. Waqf records in India are generally incomplete, dated, or in conflict. Getting clear legal ownership of waqf land takes months or even years. At times, the land is occupied illegally by powerful people and resisted any attempt at making changes.
The Fund has been finding it difficult to raise funds in some regions, especially where the economy is weak. It takes much effort and commitment to raise funds from small contributors. Another problem is that individuals are unaware of the importance of Waqf properties. Most Muslims do not know that Waqf is their common heritage and that they need to protect it.
Nevertheless, through determination and faith in its mission, the Mohsin Fund continued to increase and inspire others.
Can This Model Be Replicated Across India?
Gujarat's experience with the Mohsin Fund demonstrates that Waqf reform is possible without large government programs or foreign assistance. It just needs local leaders, transparent plans, and citizens taking action. This model can definitely be replicated elsewhere in India, where many Waqf properties must be upgraded.
One such way to achieve this is by establishing regional Waqf revival groups under the Mohsin Fund. Local NGOs, student organisations, or religious scholars could head these groups. Each group could attempt to identify one or two significant waqf lands in their region and convert them into productive institutions.
At the national level, one can establish a network to assist such local organisations. This network can offer legal advice, building design, fundraising strategies, and training resources. Technology can be of great help here—through apps or websites showing all waqf properties, tracking donations, and reporting on progress in real time.
Public awareness will also play a significant role. Workshops, online training, and media campaigns can be utilised to popularise waqf and prepare young leaders to inherit the mantle. Legal reforms are also necessary. The Waqf Act has to be modified to enhance people's participation and stern action against encroachments.
The Bigger Picture: Waqf as a Means of Contributing to Society's Transformation
Reviving Waqf properties is not just about real estate and land. It's about dignity, opportunity, and people power. If done correctly, Waqf reform can change the lives of millions of people—mostly the poor and marginalised. It can give shelter to widows, education to children, and medical care to the elderly. It can create employment, generate jobs, reduce crime rates, and enhance an empowered civil society.
The Mohsin Fund is proof positive that the dream can be attained. It is proof that if people own their problems and work together in good faith with a clear intention, change is possible. It is a silent revolution—no slogans, no protest—fuelled by compassion, strategy, and trust.
Conclusion: The Path Forward
Waqf in India is a precious resource that has remained untapped for a very long time. It has been misused, neglected, or left in the hands of others for a very long time. The Mohsin Fund has shown that even a small number of people with community leaders, transparent procedures, and a strong goal can revive waqf properties and utilise them in the community's interest. This model sets the trend not just for Muslims in Gujarat but for all Indians. By sheer will and collaboration, we can build a new tomorrow where waqf is a cause of hope, pride, and advancement—and not of neglect and despair. India's Muslim community possesses the knowledge, the motivation, and the belief to make it happen. The question is: are we willing to learn from the Mohsin Fund and take the first step?
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-society/mohsin-fund-waqf-properties-india/d/135404
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