MANZAR, the Scientific Journal of landscape
Scientific Quarterly Journal

Examining the Role of Waqf in the Spatial Organization of the Neighborhood: From Social Institution to Spatial Pattern (Case Study: Chaleh Meydan in the Qajar Period)

https://doi.org/10.22034/manzar.2026.563112.2390
Volume 18, Issue 76
Autumn 2026
Pages 34-45
MANZAR, the Scientific Journal of landscape

Document Type : Original Research Article

Authors

Zohreh Ataei Ashtiani 1
Fahimeh Musavi 2, 3
Zahra Naghdabadi 4

1 Asian Cultural Documentation Center/Institute for Humanities and Cultural Studies, Tehran, Iran

2 Department of Sociology, Allameh Tabataba’i University, Tehran, Iran

3 Department of History of Islamic Iran, Institute for Humanities and Cultural Studies, Tehran, Middle East

4 Department of Electrical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

Abstract
Throughout the history of Islamic cities, waqf has not merely been a financial or charitable institution, but has also been one of the sustainable tools shaping the spatial organization of the city. However, in urban studies in Iran, the examination of waqf has generally remained at the level of historical description, and its spatial mechanisms, particularly at the neighborhood scale, have rarely been analyzed in a systematic and analytical manner. This study, focusing on the Chaleh Meydan neighborhood in Qajar-period Tehran, aims to explain the role of waqf in the formation of the spatial structure of this neighborhood and to extract a spatial-functional pattern from this process. The research method is based on a qualitative-historical approach and spatial analysis, proceeding on two levels: on one hand, a study of documents including waqf deeds, historical maps, and municipal reports; and on the other, an analysis of the neighborhood’s physical organization in terms of a movement network and the system of waqf spaces. The theoretical framework of the research integrates the theory of space production, spatial organization and movement analysis, the concept of socio-spatial structure, and the language of organized patterns. The results show that waqf in the Chaleh Meydan neighborhood has played a key role in producing and stabilizing the neighborhood’s spatial structure through three main mechanisms: regulating ownership and access relations, organizing public and ritual uses, and creating social gathering centers. Based on this, a network consisting of waqf spaces such as mosques, schools, husseiniyas, and water reservoirs has organically linked with the neighborhood’s pathways, fostering local centrality, strengthening collective life, and sustaining the spatial identity of Chaleh Meydan. The research findings indicate that the waqf-centered spatial organization pattern can serve as an analytical framework for reinterpreting policies for the revitalization of historic neighborhoods and utilizing the potential of traditional institutions in contemporary urban management.

Keywords

Waqf
Space production
Neighborhood spatial organization
Chaleh Meydan
Qajar Tehran
Social-spatial institutions
Subjects
Abdelmonem, M. G., & Selim, G. (2012). Architecture, memory and historical continuity in Old Cairo. The Journal of Architecture, 17(2), 163–189. https://doi.org/10.1080/13602365.2012.678634 
Abu-Lughod, J. (1971). Cairo: 1001 years of the city victorious. Princeton University Press. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctv7n0cmg 
Alexander, C. (2010). A city is not a tree (F. Farshad & Sh. Golrokh, Trans.). Arman Shahr. (Original work published 1965)
Alexander, C. (2016). The timeless way of building (M. Ghioumi, Trans.). Tehran: Rozaneh Publications. (Original work published 1979)
Alexander, C., Ishikawa, S., & Silverstein, M. (1977). A pattern language: Towns, buildings, construction. Oxford University Press. https://books.google.com/books/about/A_Pattern_Language.html?id=hwAHmktpk5IC 
Bianca, S. (2000). Urban form in the Arab world: Past and present. vdf Hochschulverlag AG. https://books.google.com/books/about/Urban_Form_in_the_Arab_World.html?id=tkq3a0bXBa0C 
Etemad al-Saltaneh, M. H. (1984). روزنامۀ خاطرات اعتمادالسلطنه [The diary of Etemad al-Saltaneh] (I. Afshar, Ed.). Amir Kabir Publications. [in Persian]
Ettehadiyeh, M. (1999). موقوفات تهران و تحول شهر (۱۲۶۹-۱۳۲۰ ه.ق.)ی[Waqf properties in Tehran and urban transformation (1269–1320 AH)]. Waqf, Eternal Legancy, (28), 11–26. https://sl1nk.com/tfacl5k 
Farhodi, R., & Mirshafiei, M. (2008). تأثیر وقف در گسترش و توسعۀ فیزیکی-کالبدی شهر ری [The impact of waqf on the physical–urban expansion of Ray City]. Waqf, Eternal Legancy, 61, 109–120. https://l1nq.com/ewpaqwa [in Persian]
Ghasemi, A. (2000). سیر تحولات تاریخی شهر تهران [The historical evolution of Tehran]. Danesh-e Joghrafia [Geographical Knowledge], (1), 20–25. https://sl1nk.com/hu8gkg2 [in Persian]
Habibi, M. (2008). De la cite a la ville: analyse historique de la conception urbaine et son aspect physique‬ [From Shar to Shahr: A historical analysis of Iranian urban identity]. University of Tehran Press.
Habraken, N. J. (1998). The structure of the ordinary: Form and control in the built environment. MIT Press.
Hakim, B. S. (1986). Arabic-Islamic cities: Building and planning principles. Kegan Paul International. https://books.google.com/books/about/Arabic_Islamic_Cities_Rev.html?id=lK4iqItPQ6cC 
Hillier, B. (1996). Space is the machine. Cambridge University Press.
Hillier, B., & Hanson, J. (1984). The social logic of space. Cambridge University Press.
Hoaxer, M. (1998). Endowments, rulers and community: Waqf al-Ḥaramayn in Ottoman Algiers. Brill. https://books.google.com/books?id=tAspKaKauZ0C&printsec=frontcover 
Javaherkalam, A. (1978). تاریخ طهران [History of Tehran]. Manouchehri Library. [in Persian]
Karimian, H., Bahmani, A., & Shahabi, S. M. (2017). The influence of endowment in formation of urban spaces in Rey City during Qajar Era. Bagh-e Nazar, 13(44), 89-98.
Lefebvre, H. (1991). The production of space (D. Nicholson-Smith, Trans.). Blackwell. (Original work published 1974). https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Production_of_Space.html?id=SIXcnIoa4MwC 
Malekzadeh, E. (2006). نگاهی به امور خیریه در دورۀ قاجار [A look at charitable practices in the Qajar period]. Islamic Azad University. [in Persian]
Mohammadi, M. (2000). تحلیل نقش متقابل وقف و شهرسازی (برنامه‌ریزی فضایی - کالبدی، راهبردی جدید در توسعه و بهره‌وری بهینۀ موقوفات)ب [Analyzing the interplay between waqf and urban planning (Spatial-physical planning: A new strategy for the development and optimal utilization of waqf endowments)]. Waqf, Eternal Legancy, (30), 94–105. https://sl1nk.com/cv889qf [in Persian]
Mo’tamedi, M. (2002). Historical geography of Tehran. Iran University Press.
Rezaei, O. (2007). Inventory of Iran’s WAQF (Endowments) documents [(Vol. 4). Oghaf and Charity Affairs Organization & Osveh Publications.
Saadvandian, S., & Ettehadiyeh, M. (1989). آمار دارالخلافه تهران  [Tehran Dar al-Khilafah Statistics]. Nashre Tarikhe Iran. [in Persian]
Shahhoseini, P. (1998). Surveying the consecration in the cultural structure of Tehran from the Ghajar period up to Islamic Republic. Geographical Researches, (48), 111–119. https://sl1nk.com/hiwhwzi 
Shahhoseini, P. (2011). وقف‌شناسی تهران [Tehran waqf studies]. Paboli Publisher. [in Persian]
Shahhoseini, P. (2016). تأثیرات متقابل مکان‌های وقفی و توسعۀ شهر تهران در دورۀ قاجاریه [Mutual impacts of endowment places and urban development of Tehran during the Qajar period]. Journal of Iranian Islamic City Studies, (23), 76–85. https://l1nq.com/hvlhqqd [in Persian]
Shahri, J. (1992). The old Tehran (Vols. 1 & 2). Moin Publications.
Shirazian, R. (2016b). تهران‌نگاری، بانک نقشه‌ها و عناوین مکانی تهران قدیم [Tehranography: Map and place names of historical Tehran]. Dastan Publications. [in Persian]
Singer, A. (2002). Constructing Ottoman beneficence: An imperial soup kitchen in Jerusalem. State University of New York Press. https://books.google.ru/books?id=zHBHBTNwBQoC 
Takmil Homayoun, N. (2008). Historical events and monuments of Tehran. Iran Cultural Studies.
Yaghoubi, B. (2017). واقفان دارالخلافه [Endowers of the capital]. Avardgah Honar va Andishe [The Arena of Art and Thought]. [in Persian]
Yousefifar, S., & Yadollahpour, M. (2012). نقش موقوفات در شکل‌دهی به فضاهای شهری [The role of waqf properties in shaping urban spaces]. Waqf, Eternal Legancy, 20(79), 101–122. https://www.mvmj.ir/article_170159.html [in Persian]

Home

Submit Manuscript

Contact Us