Throughout history, waqfs constitued the most important NGOs, nongovernmental organizations, in the Islamic world. They financed and managed essential social services, such as health and education, at zero cost to the state. This book informs us about the history of waqfs in the vast Islamic world from Morocco the Philippines. The period covered extends from the birth of Islam to the present.Approaching the history of waqfs as an economic historian and an economist, Professor Çizakça argues that an eventual and much needed waqf reform in the Islamic world demands a thorough understanding of the system as it existed in history, hence this book. This will be followed by another volume assessing the historical evolution and latest developments in Western non-profit institutions. The author believes that policy recommendations for a thorough waqf reform should be made by taking into consideration both Islamic and Western experience.