Waqf & Islamic Heritage | الوقف والتراث الاسلامي

In this episode of Hwar AlMadar, we dive into the deep history and cultural significance of Waqf – a traditional Islamic system for endowments – with special guests Raja Khalidi and Farah Abushullaih. Together, we discuss the roles of their respective institutions – the Khalidi Library and Ithra – in preserving Islamic heritage. The conversation explores the operational aspects of Waqf, the historical context of their collections, and the ongoing efforts to maintain and share Islamic cultural heritage with the world. The episode provides a rich narrative on the legacy of Islamic art, the impact of cultural preservation, and the unique challenges faced by custodians of these timeless treasures.

00:00 Introduction 

01:22 Understanding Waqf: A Historical Perspective

04:28 The Role of Ithra and Its Cultural Impact

06:17 The Khalidi Library: A Legacy of Knowledge

11:29 Preservation and Cultural Legacy

22:27 Engaging the Youth: The Future of Cultural Heritage

28:43 The Nineties Manuscript Project

29:09 Challenges of Managing a Public Institution

31:15 Digitizing the Library Collection

32:14 Redefining the Library's Mission

33:26 The Role of Perpetuity in Library Management

36:28 Divine Obligation and Community Impact

38:22 Evaluating Success in Museum Exhibitions

40:17 Historical Artefacts and Their Stories

51:22 The Significance of Islamic Art

56:36 Final Thoughts

Farah Abushullaih is the Head of Museum at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra). She holds an MA in Museum Anthropology from Columbia University in New York, USA, and a BA in International Business and Intercultural Communications from Aston University in Birmingham, UK. Abushullaih joined the Ithra team in 2012 and worked as Lead Curator of the Great Hall exhibition space. During her time at Ithra, Abushullaih led the launching of a number of programs and initiatives that support the development of the Kingdom’s creative sector and provide a platform for cross-cultural engagement. With her team, she curated and developed several local and international exhibitions in collaboration and partnership with distinguished institutions. She has led bringing global art to the Kingdom, and in 2021 introduced the first immersive art exhibition that addresses the topic of sustainability in KSA.

Connect with Farah Abushullaih 👉 https://instagram.com/farah.abushullaih

Raja Khalidi was the Research Coordinator at MAS (2016-Nov 2019). He worked at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) from 1985 to 2013, and was the Coordinator of its Program of Assistance to the Palestinian people from 2000 to 2006. He spent his last five years at UNCTAD as the head of the Office of the Director of the Division of Globalization and Development Strategies, which led UNCTAD’s response to the global economic crisis and its participation in the G-20 process. He was also a consultative member of the Welfare Association (Taawon), a founding member of the Family Relief Fund in Palestine (Geneva), and a member of the MAS Board of Trustees from 2007 to 2013.

Hosted by Mikey Muhanna

Connect directly with Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://instagram.com/mikey_mu

Theme music: Peninsular, Tarek Yamani 🔊 

https://spoti.fi/47I59ns

Hwar AlMadar is a dedicated podcast series inspired by AlMadar, meaning “the Orbit,” an initiative launched by the Diriyah Biennale Foundation at the Islamic Arts Biennale that promotes collaboration and dialogue between institutions with significant collections of Islamic art around the world. 

A live podcast series powered by afikra, Hwar AlMadar is part of The Diriyah Biennale Foundation Public Programs and features leading experts from institutions around the world that contributed to AlMadar in the Islamic Arts Biennale 2025 in Jeddah. AlMadar showcases objects that embody centuries of knowledge, masterful craftsmanship, and the spirit of cultural exchange.

The Islamic Arts Biennale 2025 provides a holistic platform for new discourse about Islamic arts, offering an unparalleled space for learning, research, and insight. By juxtaposing contemporary and newly commissioned artworks with historical objects from Islamic cultures, the Biennale explores how faith is experienced, expressed, and celebrated through feeling, thinking, and making. It offers a unique platform for artists to explore themes of spirituality, identity, and the intersection of past and present, while fostering cross-cultural connections and expanding the global understanding of Islamic art and culture.

حوار المدار هو سلسلة بودكاست حيّة تابعة للبرنامج الثقافي في مؤسسة بينالي الدرعية، بالتعاون مع عفكرة. يستضيف البودكاست خبراء عالميين من المؤسسات المشاركة في "المدار" الذي يضم مقتنيات تختزل قروناً من المعرفة والحرفية والتبادل الثقافي، في بينالي جدة للفنون الإسلامية 2025

يقدم بينالي الفنون الإسلامية منصة شاملة لاستضافة وتشجيع الحوار وتوسيع المعرفة بالفنون الإسلامية، وذلك من خلال ما يوفره من فرص للبحث والتأمل والتعلم في مختلف المجالات. يعرض البينالي تحفاً تاريخية من مختلف الثقافات الإسلامية، جنباً إلى جنب مع أعمال من الفن المعاصر، وذلك في محاولة لاستكشاف عمق المعاني الإيمانية، والتعرف على طرق التعبير الإبداعي عنها من خلال الفكر والحس والإبداع. كما يوفر البينالي منصة فريدة للفنانين لاستكشاف موضوعات تشمل الإيمان والهوية والتقاطعات بين الماضي والحاضر، مع تعزيز الروابط الثقافية والتعريف بالفنون والثقافة الإسلامية على المستوى العالمي