The Awqaf during the reign of Nur al-Din Mahmud Zengi

The Waqf system was known from ancient times, and with the rise of Islam, Muslims paid great attention to the Awqaf for its importance in the public life. The Awqaf spread and varied to included various aspects of people's lives in the Zengid era, especially during the reign of the Just King Nur al-Din Mahmud Zengi (541-569AH/ 1146-1174CE) who was famous for his rapid establishment of public facilities and institutions that were funded from the Waqf revenues. Nur al-Din ordered the establishment of mosques, schools, Khanqah, Zawiyah, Ribat, libraries, as well as release of Muslim captives and pursing Jihad. This research comes to highlight this unique personality and its contribution to the Awqaf which in turn helped build and develop the Zengid State. After a brief introduction, the paper comprises of three sections together with the conclusions and results; the first section deals with the idea of the Waqf and evidence of its legitimacy in Islam. Whilst the second section deals with Nur al-Din's interest in mosques, schools and libraries. The third section deals with his interest in other institutions as well as Jihad and the releasing of prisoners of war