The Impact of the 1822 Earthquake on the Administration of waqf in Aleppo

Abstract

On 13 August 1822 the whole of northwestern Syria was struck by a strong earthquake with an estimated magnitude of about 7.4, whose epicentre was near the small town of 'Afrin about forty-five kilometres north of Aleppo. The author compares his findings with activity in a reference period before the earthquake, the twenty years between 1205/1790-91 and 1225/1810-11. He analyses two different types of transactions both quantitatively and qualitatively. Two types of contracts that created private property rights on waqf assets, the hikr and the khulu 'urfi contracts are examined. This leads to a revaluation of these contracts and their role and efficiency in waqf administration. The author analyses endowment activity during that period. He tries to show that, at least in Aleppo the much-criticised contracts of partial alienation of waqf property do not seem to have indicated a massive manipulation of that property by waqf administrators or judges. Keywords:Aleppo; hikr ; khulu 'urfi ; northwestern Syria; waqf administration