The Ambassador of the State of Kuwait to Malaysia, Rashid Al-Saleh, affirmed on Tuesday Kuwait's commitment to supporting developmental endowment initiatives, emphasizing the importance of leveraging technology to serve communities and investing in "digital assets" to enhance innovation in the field of Islamic endowments (Waqf).  

This statement was made by Al-Saleh to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) during the "Digital Endowments: Legitimacy, Applications, and Impact on Sustainable Development" symposium, organized by the Kuwait General Secretariat of Awqaf and hosted by the International Islamic University in Kuala Lumpur.  

He stated, "In line with Kuwait's pioneering role in supporting developmental and endowment initiatives, and its belief in the importance of utilizing technology to serve communities, we see digital assets as an unprecedented opportunity to foster innovation in the field of Waqf amidst the rapid digital transformations witnessed globally."  

Al-Saleh highlighted the importance of expanding the horizons of Waqf work to include digital assets and encouraging individuals and institutions to convert part of their digital properties into "sustainable endowments that transcend geographical boundaries and benefit broad segments of societies worldwide."  

He noted that this initiative aligns with Kuwait's vision of supporting sustainable development, emphasizing its role in promoting Waqf as an effective tool for achieving social solidarity and contributing to a more sustainable and digitally equitable future for all.  

Al-Saleh praised the efforts of the General Secretariat of Awqaf and the fruitful cooperation with the Kuwait-based International Islamic Charitable Organization (IICO) in advancing such initiatives that serve the Waqf sector.  

On her part, the symposium's coordinator and Director of Studies and External Relations at the General Secretariat of Awqaf, Reham Boukhou, told KUNA that Malaysia was chosen to host the symposium due to its pioneering experiences in the field of Waqf, both monetary and in-kind, as well as its leadership in Waqf Sukuk and advanced expertise in financial technology.  

Boukhou explained that the International Islamic University in Malaysia hosts a group of specialized scholars with extensive experience in Waqf and technology, noting that the General Secretariat of Awqaf has previously collaborated with the university in organizing and sponsoring academic seminars.  

She expressed hope that the symposium would provide a fruitful platform for exchanging knowledge and experiences, enhancing cooperation to build a sustainable Waqf future, and anticipated that the event would yield practical and actionable recommendations.  

In a similar statement to KUNA, the Deputy Director General of Projects at the International Islamic Charitable Organization (IICO), Abdulrahman Al-Mutawaa, stated that the organization places great importance on the Waqf sector, noting that its establishment was the result of a Waqf idea, making it a fundamental part of its developmental strategies.  

Al-Mutawaa explained that the idea for this symposium originated from the International Forum of Development Organizations, based in Turkey, where the IICO embraced, studied, and developed the concept before presenting it to the General Secretariat of Awqaf, which took on its sponsorship and organization.  

He expressed hope that the symposium would result in practical and fruitful recommendations to enable charitable organizations to develop their endowments and transform them into advanced digital models in line with artificial intelligence and the technological revolution.  

Al-Mutawaa emphasized the importance of innovation in digital Waqf as an effective tool to serve human communities and enhance the sustainability of developmental projects.  

In his opening speech, the President of the International Islamic University in Malaysia, Dr. Osman Bakar, stated that the symposium "reflects the enduring Islamic values and the importance of integrating academic activities with Waqf practices."  

Bakar praised the efforts of Kuwait, represented by the General Secretariat of Awqaf and the IICO, in organizing and sponsoring the symposium, stemming from a spirit of unity and solidarity to serve society.  

He explained that digital Waqf represents a modern trend in the field of endowments, offering innovative opportunities to contribute to charitable work and achieve social and humanitarian goals. He emphasized that this Waqf model could extend its impact globally, especially in countries facing conflicts and humanitarian crises such as Palestine, Syria, and Sudan.  

Bakar stressed the importance of integration and harmony in digital strategies to ensure the building of a sustainable digital Waqf based on principles of economic and social justice.  

He noted that digital Waqf could be harnessed to serve a wide range of goals, such as providing education, supporting healthcare, enhancing community development, and empowering individuals economically, as well as contributing to increased agricultural, industrial, and technological production, among other areas that enhance societies' ability to evolve and improve individuals' quality of life.  

In his keynote speech, the CEO of Waqf Malaysia, Dr. Ridzwan Bakar, highlighted Malaysia's experience in the field of Waqf, noting the prominent role of non-governmental organizations in supporting and developing Waqf projects.  

Bakar stated that digital Waqf is a new concept that opens broad horizons for contributing to charitable work and enhances the achievement of social and humanitarian goals through innovative tools that keep pace with technological advancements.  

He addressed the challenges and risks associated with digital Waqf, explaining that the most prominent include operational costs, information security, competitive awareness, and the variability in the market value of digital assets. He noted that addressing these challenges requires relying on high-quality digital assets, efficient management capable of effective operation, enhancing competitiveness, and ensuring that Waqf services reach beneficiaries in the best possible way.  

In his speech, the Secretary-General of the International Forum of Development Organizations, Mamoun Al-Ashqar, emphasized the pivotal role of Kuwait in charitable and humanitarian work, both domestically and internationally, praising its leading role in supporting Waqf and developmental initiatives.  

Al-Ashqar noted that choosing Malaysia to host the symposium reflects its position in leveraging technology to serve Islamic work, adding that this event enhances the concept of partnership and cooperation among the organizing entities, contributing to the development of joint frameworks in the field of Waqf.  

He explained that the continuous evolution of Waqf tools and the need to adapt to technological changes require a clear roadmap for digital Waqf, stressing that this symposium is a first step toward organizing a more sustainable and efficient digital Waqf system.  

Al-Ashqar mentioned plans to hold a specialized conference on digital Waqf based on the outcomes and recommendations of this symposium, aiming to establish solid foundations for this field and enhance its role in sustainable development.  

The symposium's agenda includes six main themes: the jurisprudential foundations of digital Waqf, the legal framework for digital Waqf, governance of digital Waqf, technical specifications for digital Waqf, practical applications of digital Waqf, and ideas and projects for digital Waqf to envision its future and ways to develop it.  

The General Secretariat of Awqaf in Kuwait sponsors the two-day symposium, with participation from the International Islamic Charitable Organization (IICO), the International Islamic University in Malaysia, the International Forum of Development Organizations, and the Insan Foundation for Relief and Development.