Role of the Waqf Institution in the Establishment and Sustained Operation of Dar al-Shifas and Dar al-Ajazas in Anatolia: Evidence from Waqf Deeds during the Seljuk Period

Document Type : Conference Paper

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Department of Islamic Studies, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

2 Associate Professor, Department of History, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran

3 Research Center for Traditional Medicine and History of Medical Sciences, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran

Abstract

Public health and sanitation were critical indicators of civilizational advancement in Islamic societies, particularly during the Seljuk period in Anatolia (483–707 AH / 1077–1308 CE). This study examines the role of the waqf (charitable endowment) system in establishing and sustaining Dar al-shifas (hospitals) and Dar al-ajazas (care homes for the elderly and disabled) through an analysis of waqf deeds. The findings highlight how revenue from endowed properties supported the construction, operation, and management of these institutions, ensuring their functionality amidst the political, military, and cultural dynamics of the Seljuk Rome period.

References

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Journal of Research on History of Medicine
Volume 14, Suppl. 1
The 2nd History of Medicine Meeting: Entangled Histories: Contribution of Iran and Türkiye to the Development of Medical Sciences; 2025 Oct 7-10; Shiraz, Iran
October 2025
Pages 99-102

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