New Delhi, May 19, 2025: The Muslim intellectuals’ Forum ‘Bharat First’ has welcomed the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, terming it as a timely judicial, social and economic reform that deserves the support of Muslims and non-Muslims alike. They stated that the Act provides a systematic solution for the management of Waqf properties in India—such as mosques, graveyards, madrasas, dargahs, and other immovable assets donated for social welfare—which have long been plagued by mismanagement, legal disputes, and irregularities. “The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 fortifies the security, professional management and social justice mandate of Muslim communal endowments. Transparent digital platforms, professional administration, time-bound justice and welfare-oriented expenditure will not only restore donors confidence but also revive the Waqf’s original spirit of falah-e-insaniyat—the welfare of humankind,” Shiraz Quraishi, Advocate and National Convenor, Bharat First said while addressing a press conference in New Delhi today. Dr Imran Chaudhary, Bharat First’s National Adviser, said that one needs to understand the roots of those opposing the Act. “Certain leaders, posing as ‘community saviors’ for electoral gain are misleading the community,” he said. He said that the allegation that the Government wants to grab Waqf land is totally baseless. “Section 91-B expressly requires Board consent for any acquisition, mandates full market compensation and credits the amount to the Waqf Development Fund. Title never passes to the State,” he explained. He further said that the allegation that it violates religious freedom is also baseless. Syed Rashid Ali, Faizan Rahis Quraishi, Javed Khan Saif (Adv.), Saif Quraishi (Adv.), Tahir Khan, Saif Rana, Mohammed Sabreen, Aqeel Khan, Kaiser Ansari, Iqbal Ahmad, Mazahir Khan, Shalini Ali, Nazir Mir, Maulana Kaukab Muztaba, Faiz Ahmad Faiz, Irfan Pirzada, Mohammed Afzal, Abu Bakr Naqvi, Diwan Saifullah (Adv.) were also among the speakers who unanimously endorsed that Waqf (Amendment) Act, calling it a ‘timely judicial and social reform. Further elaborating on the opposition of the Act, they said there are insecure vested interests that professional recruitment at board level may loosen the grip of long-entrenched but under-qualified office-holders. The Forum also said that many critics have not studied the text on digital platforms, CAG audits or the 50 per cent social-expenditure rule, and there is an information deficit. “The amendment deals solely with administrative transparency—audits, digitisation, CEO qualifications—and touches neither prayer, imamate, nor religious rites. The Supreme Court itself noted on 15 May 2025 that it is hearing only on interim relief; the law is not stayed,” the Muslim intellectual forum said. Also, online registers and welfare quotas exist in the Waqf systems of Türkiye, Malaysia and the Gulf, where Muslim identity remains entirely intact so the allegation that it will erase Muslim identity is unfounded.Commenting on the transparency that the Act introduces, the speakers said National Waqf Information System (NWIS) rules out any duplicate entries and allows any citizen to verify the status of a property. “Every State and Union Territory must, within 18 months, upload geo-tagged land records, maps and building details of all Waqf immovable on a GIS-enabled portal. The measure stamps out “benami” or duplicate entries and allows any citizen to verify the status of a property,” the speakers explained. They further talked about the ‘open annual audit’ which states that Waqfs whose annual income exceeds ₹100 crore will henceforth have their accounts subject to CAG scrutiny; a mandatory digital book-keeping format is prescribed even for smaller Waqfs. Talking about how the Act will strengthen the administrative architecture, the Forum talked about the new section 14-A which obliges every state Waqf Board to include one non-Muslim jurist and one woman social worker, ensuring both stakeholder diversity and gender balance in oversight. The qualifications for CEOs have also been tightened and the CEOs now must be Group A civil servants or possess at least 15 years’ administrative experience. This will sharply curb political patronage, they said. For swift dispute resolution, there are special Waqf tribunals. The amendment sets a 12-month deadline for disposal and permits online evidence recording. Appeals lie directly to the High Court, reducing “forum-shopping” and clearing years-old backlogs.The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 has provisions centered on community welfare, with at least 50 per cent of net income mandatory spending on scholarships, health camps, women’s self-employment and similar schemes; a default invites appointment of an administrator and a penalty twice the amount misapplied. The noted speakers further said that the Act would restore the religious character as it states that if a property’s religious nature is altered, the CEO must, after notice, restore it within 30 days; the District Magistrate is bound to give enforcement assistance if required. “Articles 25-30 strike a balance between religious freedom and the State’s “constitutional parenthood.” Enhanced administrative supervision does not abridge minority rights; on the contrary, corruption-free management secures them. Comparative reports from Türkiye, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia on their awqaf “public-service funds” commend similar digital and transparent regimes,” Further advocating that the Act is a step towards bringing in harmony with Constitutional and International Norms, they said, “The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 fortifies the security, professional management and social-justice mandate of Muslim communal endowments. The measure is a timely judicial, social and economic reform that deserves the support of progressive citizens across India, Muslims and non-Muslims alike. The Muslim community has already filed twelve intervener petitions in the Hon’ble Supreme Court endorsing the Amendment, demonstrating that the community at large is not opposed to the reform but actively support it.