The Endowments of the Women of Amol and Their Uses in the Qajar Era, using the Endowment Decrees (1210-1344 AH)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Iranian Studies Foundation, Tehran,

2 Doctorate in Iranian Islamic History of Payam Noor University,Tehran,Iran

Abstract
Female waqefs (endowers) has always had a high status among the various groups of Iranian society. Their motivation for endowing includes a vast range of issues. Their endowments have played a significant role in satisfying the needs of society and have been the source of many scientific, cultural, welfare, and health services over the history of Iran. Exploring the content of the endowment documents belong to the women and other endowment deeds is of paramount significance in terms of depicting their presence and participation  in the social affairs of the Qajar era (1210-1344 AH). This study sought to explore the contents of the endowment documents to understand the intentions of female endowers of Amon, Iran, for endowing their properties in the Qajar era. Taking a descriptive-analytical and statistical method, this study focused on the contents of endowment documents and used some historical sources and authentic studies. The results indicated that female endowers of Amol had endowed their properties with religious and social intentions. They have devoted their endowments for mourning, charity, and public benefit affairs, student affairs, and schools of religious sciences. Regarding their social status, the women belonged to the local nobles, merchants, and marketers, religious scholars, and landlords. Accordingly, their endowments have been land, residential houses, shops, and gardens. Their social status in the era has been dependent on the social status of their fathers or husbands (mainly Mollah, Akhond, Mirza, Beig, Sardar, Agha, and Agha Bozorg).

Keywords

Subjects