'Reports of administration for 1918 of divisions and districts of the occupied territories in Mesopotamia. Volume I' [‎76r] (156/470)

Waqf. T regret that it has not been possible till recently to exercise proper
supervision over waqf affairs in Hillah, and no attempt could be made to look into
the matter until the end of 1918. As in the case of other records, all waqf papers
were removed by the Turks, the mamur waqf died last August, and officers’ hands
have been full of more pressing work. It is not surprising, therefore, that auqaf
affairs were found to be in a state of confusion. A visit from Jamil Effendi
Inspector of Auqaf did something to set things straight, and a list of waqf properties
was made out at the end of the year. I have reason to believe, however, that the
title of the auqaf department will be disputed in several cases, and the auqaf
proportion of the produce still more. In these circumstances it is impossible to give
a clear and coherent report. Auqaf affairs are now being taken up, however; a
survey of the properties is being made, and a proper system of accounts instituted
and I trust that before long matters will be established on a proper footing.
The work has not been facilitated by much assistance from the Auqaf Depart
ment of Baghdad. A request for information on the subject was met by reference
to the 1917 Revenue Administration report, which apparently was thought to contain
all the information that could be desired. A note from "an expert^on the waqf
system generally, giving some account of its history and of the present situation and
methods of management, explaining the different kinds of waqf and the distribution
of produce, and stating what kinds of properties were liable to pay revenue, would
have been of considerable assistance.
Most of the Waqf property in Hillah is madhbut. The mulhaqah properties
are dedicated to Jama‘ Khidr Bey at Baghdad and are in a bad state. There are
four Sunni Mosques, of which only one, the Jama 4 Kabir, is endowed, the upkeep
of the others falling on the Baladiyah, an iniquitous arrangement inherited from
the Turks, which, I understand, it is necessary for the present to maintain.
Mashhad al Shams is a Shi‘ah Waqf endowed with two shops. It has been neffiected
in the past and needs repair. There are various properties dedicated to° other
pious objects: the Jama 4 al Kabir and Mashhad al Shams at Hillah, the Haidariyah
shrine at Najaf and Jama 4 Muradiyah, Jama 4 Bushnaq Ahmad Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , Imam al
‘Adham, Jama ‘Khidhr Beg, Jama 4 Munawwarah Khatun and Jama 4 Hannan at
Baghdad. Of these only the properties attached to Jama 4 Khidr Beg are mulhaqah,
but the management is temporarily vested in the Auqaf Department, as the Mutawalli
is a minor.
Practically all the Auqaf income from land for 1918 was farmed. The farm
of the Mahawil 4 Uqr was cancelled, because collection in. full would have been
contrary to the general revenue policy as regards uqr. Only the Jarbu 4 iyah and
Madhatiyah properties and four gardens in Barmanah were not auctioned. There
were no satisfactory offers for the former, the existence of the latter had not been
discovered at the time the farms were given. Waqf dues from all these three
properties will now be collected direct. There are still some outstandings from
1917. As no proper means were taken to recover these, and for political reasons
it has been necessary to grant certain reductions. Full recovery is out of the
question. The income from shops and similar properties is collected direct.
Certain repairs have been carried out during the year, but further repair is necessary.
Even at the present cost of labour and material, the expenditure will be remunerative.
There are only two pious objects in Hillah the upkeep of which falls on the auqaf
department. The Mashhad al Shams has a poor endowment, the income from which
needs careful management; the Jama 4 al Kabir has numerous properties attached
and its financial position is satisfactory.
A statement showing the waqf demands and collections for 1918 is given as
Appendix A. 1. Appendix A. 2 shows the receipts and expenditure on each pious
object, excluding maqamat. Appendix A. 3 shows the demands, collections, and
outstandings for 1917. I fear these figures are not wholly accurate, but it has been
necessary to compile them hastily from badly kept accounts, and in the case of
direct collections the demand could only be estimated. Despite the difficulties
mentioned the auqaf income shows a satisfactory increase.
Orders were received from the Director of Auqaf that no expenditure might
be incurred without previous sanction. These orders were subsequently modified
and permission was granted to spend up to Rs. 200/- in case of urgent need, provided
the expenditure was immediately reported for sanction in C.D.Os. This procedure
is unworkable. Apparently the intention is to centralise the control of all Waqf
funds in Baghdad, a method which has resulted and must inevitably result in
unnecessary correspondence, delay and inconvenience to all concerned. As things
& IO 1162—1
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