The status of waqf properties in the Malay-Muslim majority areas of Thailand: a legal survey

Abstract

This paper explores the status of the institution of waqf and relevant laws concerning waqf in the Malay-Muslim majority areas in Thailand. There are some provisions in the Royal Act concerning Muslim mosque, 1947 which spea s about mosque property in general. However, this Act does not reflect the status of waqf property in Islamic law. Of course, other laws, for example, Thai Civil and Commercial Law Code 1934, the Royal Act concerning the Administration of Islamic organization, 1997, the Patronage of Islam Act of 1945, and Thai National Land Code, 1951 spea about the property and trust. The crucial issues as to whether those laws are complete to accommodate the waqf property for Muslims in those four provinces and other Muslims in the country. The study is deemed necessary to highlight some of the wea nesses which should be solved in order to improve and review the existing provisions and other related issues pertaining to waqf properties in those four provinces.