British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Volume II - Page 906

CHAPTER XXII.

71. The main source of revenue of the Awqaf Administration was the tithe, a Government tax, on certain areas dedicated by the former rulers of the country for charitable purposes and placed under the control of the Ottoman Ministry of Awqaf. The collections of the tithe in respect of these areas was credited to the Supreme Moslem Council, less collection charges fixed at 6 per cent of actual collections. In 1927 the tithe was commuted for an annual payment fixed at the average assessment of a period of three to five years. This measure was followed from 1930 by a series of crop failures which necessitated substantial remissions and as a result the revenue of the Awqaf Administration was seriously reduced. Moreover, the imminent substitution of a Rural Property Tax for the tithe and the Rouse and Land Tax in the rural areas was expected to yield a considerably smaller revenue. In these circumstances the Government agreed to pay to the Supreme Moslem Council a lump sum of £P.30,000 annually in lieu of the commuted tithe.

72. The functions of the Supreme Moslem Council are divided into two distinct divisions; the one is connected with the Sharia Courts and the other with the Administration of Awqaf. The estimates of the Sharia Courts are included in the Government estimates under the Judicial Department. The court fees and other receipts, and court deposits, are accounted for in the same way as other court receipts. The Council, however, has power to nominate, and after approval by the Government to appoint, Qadis of the Moslem Sharia Courts, the President and members of the Sharia Court of Appeal and the Inspector of Sharia Courts.

73. The administration of the Awqaf is carried out, under the Council, by the Director General of Awqaf and a Mamour Awqaf in each District with the usual complement of clerks.

74. The total estimated revenue of the Awqaf Administration from all sources for the calendar year 1945 is £P .115 ,650 and the expenditure is £P .115 ,620.

75. The Awqaf administration is responsible for the maintenance of a large number of mosques and shrines throughout the country together with numerous benevolent and social welfare activities, including an orphanage and schools. For these purposes a large number of mosque officials, preachers, caretakers and teachers is required.

76. One of the principal responsibilities of the Awqaf Administration, and that which makes the heaviest demand upon its funds, is the maintenance of the ancient and world-renowned Haram ash Sharif at Jerusalem (where the Dome of the Rock and the Mosque el Aksa are situated) and the immemorial Haram el Khalil at Hebron which contains the graves of the patriarchs.

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