In South Asia, the institution of waqf dates back to the establishment of Muslim rule. It is also an indication of the solid formation of Islamic Law in the subcontinent. Particularly during the Mughal period, women often participated in acquiring property for waqf. Mughal princesses and female members of elite Muslim families donated huge amounts of money to charity to construct religious schools (madāris), tombs, orphanages (yatīm khāna) and mosques. The Mughal princess Jahānārā Begum (d. 1681) was responsible for the c…