Women And Waqf: Zeynep Hanım Waqf In The Context Of Sustainability And Professional Managemen

Abstract

This article discusses the Zeynep Hanım Waqf in the context of sustainability and professional management. The waqf is associated with the Kavalalı Mehmet Ali Pasha family, which played crucial roles in both Egyptian and Ottoman history. Among notable family members were rulers of Egypt, such as valis and khedives, and prominent women like Zeynep Hanım. The Ottoman Empire granted a new status to the Kavalalı family after the London Agreement of 1841, and relations between Cairo and Istanbul normalized. Traces of the family’s presence can be seen in various aspects of Istanbul’s life after the Tanzimat era, including the construction of grand structures like Beykoz Kasr, Khediv Kasr and charitable works like Zeynep-Kamil Hospital. Zeynep Hanım, a member of the Kavalalı family, was known for her philanthropy, having dedicated a hospital to herself and her husband, Yusuf Kamil Pasha, known as Zeynep Kamil Hospital. This chapter further explores the waqf’s history and management, revealing that Zeynep Hanım became the trustee of the family waqf established by Mehmet Ali Pasha after her elder brother’s death. The waqf charter allowed for administration by the eldest male or female heirs of Mehmet Ali Pasha’s sons. Zeynep Hanım took over the administration despite not being a governor, becoming the first woman to hold this position in the family. It also discusses Zeynep Hanım’s establishment of multiple waqfs, including Zeynep Kamil Hospital, and how her husband, Yusuf Kamil Pasha, became involved in the waqf’s activities, indicating a partnership between them. The text emphasizes the role of women as waqf founders and managers in Ottoman society, as they received salaries for their duties and maintained control over the waqf’s operations. Zeynep Hanım’s waqf charters underwent changes over time, demonstrating a dynamic approach to waqf management. The text explores Zeynep Hanım’s decision-making regarding her property and income and her consideration of her husband’s relatives in the waqf’s activities. Additionally, it highlights the importance of trustees in the functioning of waqfs and the legal structures governing their establishment and operation in the Ottoman Empire. The waqf’s focus on charitable services and social assistance underscores the broader societal impact of family waqfs in the Ottoman lands. The text also mentions the waqf’s ties to Egypt and Istanbul, with resources flowing from Egypt to Istanbul for charitable purposes. Overall, the Zeynep Hanım Waqf exemplifies the determination of individuals to address economic and social challenges in Ottoman society through charitable works, and it reflects the deep connections between Egypt and Istanbul through philanthropic efforts