The Potential Development of Waqf in India Post-COVID-19: A SWOT-TOWS Analysis

Waqf is an outstanding socio-economic tool of Islam which has played a great role in the history of Islam. India owns a substantial amount of waqf properties in terms of lands, buildings, and other assets. However, the paper argues that waqf has failed to achieve the expectations of Indian Muslim society due to widespread issues in the management and administration of waqf in the country. Waqf requires huge statutory and administrative reforms in India. Many studies have been conducted about the waqf properties and the issues in its administration in India. However, none of them has examined it in terms of SWOT-TOWS analysis. In this study, the SWOT analysis is conducted to uncover the internal strengths, weaknesses, as well as external opportunities and threats of the waqf in India. The TOWS analysis is carried out to cross-match between strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Along with that, the study also put a glance at the potential of Indian waqf institutions in dealing with the economic problems of the country post-COVID-19. The study develops strategies that can help the Indian waqf to achieve its potential development and implies that waqf has sufficient strengths and opportunities in India to deliver its desired objectives and help the Indian economy to revive post-COVID-19.