Аннотация:In the 19th century Islamic endowment institution – waqf – was coming to a deep and serious institutional crisis which was expressed, first of all, in the lack of correspondence between fundamental principles of waqf institution and aims of modernization of the Ottoman state and society. On the one hand, the response to these challenges was an attempt of the state to reform the existed waqf system, and on the other hand – search of new philosophy of waqf within altering historical circumstances.
Ottoman waqfs operated on the principles of “free” economy and were delivered from centralized control and administration. Furthermore they enjoyed specific juristic personality (practically every waqf acted as artificial/legal person). By the 15th and 18th century waqfs turned into a system of pious and social institutions which was able to expand or diminish the scale of their action following the ups and downs of political situation, and possessed considerable cultural, economical and socio-political potential for the life of the Ottoman state and society.
At the same time productivity and social utility of the waqf institution and its activities started to reduce and decline gradually. By the 19th century the public criticism of waqfs and their insufficient efficiency became more frequent.