The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, allowing non-Muslims on waqf boards and granting the government authority over property disputes, was passed by India's Parliament. While Prime Minister Modi calls it a step toward justice, critics argue it threatens minority rights and could lead to land loss for Muslims. The bill awaits presidential approval.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the early Friday passage of a bill amending the laws governing land donated by Muslims as a "watershed moment." In a post on X, Modi described the contentious Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, as a significant step toward "socio-economic justice, transparency, and inclusive growth."

The bill passed through the upper house of Parliament after a lengthy 16-hour debate, with 128 members voting in favor and 95 voting against it. Modi expressed gratitude to all the lawmakers who participated in the discussions, emphasizing that the bill would benefit marginalized communities.

The Waqf system refers to properties that are exclusively dedicated for religious, educational, or charitable purposes under Islamic law. Once designated as waqf, these properties cannot be sold or transferred.

Proposed by Modi's nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the bill allows non-Muslims to serve on the boards that govern waqf properties. It also grants the government the authority to determine the ownership of land in the event of a dispute. The bill, having passed both houses of Parliament, is now set to be sent to President Droupadi Murmu for her approval before becoming law.

Critics of the bill, including various Muslim groups, have expressed concerns that the proposal is discriminatory, politically motivated, and part of an effort by Modi's Hindu nationalist ruling party to undermine minority rights. They argue that the bill's provision granting sole authority to a government official to confirm waqf property claims could weaken the power of waqf boards and potentially lead to the loss of land by Muslims.

Mallikarjun Kharge, the Leader of Opposition in the upper house and a member of the Congress Party, accused the BJP of "bulldozing" the bill through Parliament in an effort to "snatch the rights of minorities," according to The Indian Express. On Thursday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also criticized the bill on X, calling it "a weapon aimed at marginalizing Muslims and usurping their personal laws and property rights."

In response to the bill’s passage, security measures were heightened in "sensitive" areas of Delhi with sizable Muslim populations to prevent any disturbances. A police official informed the Press Trust of India news agency that these precautions were taken to ensure peace.

Waqfs are Islamic charitable foundations in which donors permanently dedicate property, often real estate, for religious or charitable purposes. In India, waqf holdings include around 872,000 properties covering 405,000 hectares (1 million acres), with an estimated value of $14.22 billion (€12.95 billion). Both the government and Muslim organizations estimate that over 25 waqf boards are among the largest landowners in the country.

Many Muslim groups fear that this legislation could weaken their control over waqf land, particularly given the recent efforts by Hindu nationalist groups to claim several mosques, arguing that they were built on the sites of ancient Hindu temples.