ABSTRACT

Even though there are many different opinions about how the waqfs has been developed for the first time, it is Islam religion that has encouraged by its signs and teaching of the prophet Muhammed. Also it is possible to say the waqfs were the foundations wich were based according to Islamic law. Ottoman Empire has followed Islamic law as other Islamic countries when they founded the waqf. According to Islam religion the main aim to found a waqf is, to gain Allah’s consent, spiritually near to Allah. Therefore it is not relevant who founds the waqf regardless to their race, religion and nationalitiy. There are many waqfs founded in Ottoman Empire both by müslims and nonMüslims. However non-muslims were not allowed to found a waqf which would help directly to churches, monasteries and synagogues to be repaired or built and to print or distribute Bible and Torah. Nevertheless non-muslims were alloved to give waqf to the poor of the churches, monasteries and synagogues. Therefore non-muslims were able to give charity to their worship places. Apart from this the non-muslims in Ottoman Empire, were allowed to found waqfs for social aim and building fountains, roads, bridges etc. Edirneli Lumberman Agop’s waqf is about fountain, road and poor and ill people of a church in the 18th century. His waqf’s aims were social and community affairs. In Agop’s foundation’s waqfiyya; donated properties, who will work in the fouindation, how much the workers will be paid, where and how much the foundation income will be distributed and the legal side of the foundation etc. are elaborately included. Agop’s foundation gives information about 18th century socio-cultural and economic life in Ottoman Empire.