Nonetheless, according to a number of publications, the board owns around 940,000 acres of land in various locations across the nation, including cemeteries, madrasas, mosques, and other properties utilized for communal purposes. These estates were presented to the Waqf Board by affluent businesspeople, religious leaders, Sufi saints, and Muslim kings. These people gave land so that madrasas, dargahs, and mosques might be constructed.
Nizams among Top Donors
Donations to the board were a well-known practice of the Nizams of Hyderabad. Nizam-ul-Mulk, which translates as "ruler of the state," is abbreviated as "Nizam."
Notably, there were ten Nizams in Hyderabad. Mir Qamaruddin Khan (1724–1748) was the city's first Nizam, while Mir Osman ali Khan was its last. The Deccan region's largest landowner, Nizam-ul-Mulk Asaf Jah VII, gave Waqf thousands of acres.
Nizams Donations to Temples
Nizam Osman ali Khan made substantial contributions to several important temples, including the golden temple in Amritsar, Tirupati, and Yadgirigutta. In a similar vein, madrasas and other places of worship in South india received significant financial support from the golconda and Bijapur Sultanates.
The Mughals donated to the Waqf.
Religious Waqf assets in Delhi, Agra, and hyderabad received significant land grants from a number of Mughal emperors, including Akbar, Shah Jahan, and Aurangzeb, as well as well-known women like Jahanara Begum.
Contributions to Waqf from Sufi Saints' Followers
Large assets were gifted by Sufi saints' followers, including Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti (Ajmer) and Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya (Delhi). Notable contributions were also made by the dargahs of baba Farid (Punjab) and Salar Masood Ghazi (Bahraich).
Muslim Landowners and Merchants
Rich Muslim individuals, including landowners and businessmen, donated Waqf holdings to fund religious and educational institutions. Among them were well-known individuals like Sir Syed Muhammad and the ahmedabad Vakeel family.
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