Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about Jamaa Waqf - the community-powered mutual aid platform

Getting Started
Contribute & Benefit
Jamaas
Waqf Projects
Payments
Security
Support
Getting Started
What is Jamaa Waqf?
Jamaa Waqf is a community-powered mutual aid platform that combines the ancient Islamic concept of Waqf (charitable endowment) with modern peer-to-peer technology. Our platform enables members to:
  • Contribute: Support fellow community members with your contributions
  • Benefit: Receive support with a 30.0% bonus after 30 days
  • Join Jamaas: Connect with like-minded communities
  • Invest in Waqf Projects: Participate in real estate and business ventures
Jamaa means "community" in Swahili - together, we build a stronger financial future.
How do I create an account?
Creating an account is simple and takes less than 2 minutes:
  1. Click "Join Now" on the homepage
  2. Enter your full name, email, and phone number
  3. Create a secure password
  4. Verify your phone number via SMS code
  5. Complete your profile with payment details
Once verified, you can immediately start participating in the community.
Phone verification is required for security and to prevent fraud.
What are the requirements to join?
To join Jamaa Waqf, you need:
  • A valid phone number - for verification and notifications
  • Mobile Money or bank account - for transactions
  • Minimum contribution: 50,000 INR
There's no maximum limit - contribute based on your capacity.
Is Jamaa Waqf available in my country?
Jamaa Waqf is currently available in:
  • Uganda - Full support (MTN MoMo, Airtel Money, Banks)
  • Kenya - Coming soon
  • Tanzania - Coming soon
  • Rwanda - Coming soon
We're expanding rapidly! Join our waitlist if your country isn't listed yet.
Contribute & Benefit
What does "Contribute" mean?
Contribute is when you support another community member with funds. When you make a contribution:
  1. You specify the amount you want to contribute
  2. Our system matches you with an eligible beneficiary
  3. You transfer funds directly to the recipient via Mobile Money or bank
  4. After 30 days, you become eligible to benefit with a 30.0% bonus
Example: Contribute 100,000 INR → Benefit 130,000 INR after 30 days
What does "Benefit" mean?
Benefit is when you receive support from the community. After your contribution matures:
  1. Your benefit request is automatically placed in the queue
  2. You're matched with contributors based on queue position
  3. Contributors send funds directly to your Mobile Money or bank
  4. You confirm receipt in the system
Benefit payments typically complete within 72 hours of matching.
How is the 30.0% bonus calculated?
Your benefit amount is calculated as: Contribution × 1.3
Contribution Benefit (After 30 days) Bonus
100,000 INR 130,000 INR 30,000 INR
500,000 INR 650,000 INR 150,000 INR
1,000,000 INR 1,300,000 INR 300,000 INR
Try our Calculator
How does the matching system work?
Our matching system uses a fair, transparent algorithm:
  1. Queue Position: Benefit requests are processed in order of eligibility date (first-come, first-served)
  2. Automatic Matching: When you contribute, the system matches you with the next eligible beneficiary in the queue
  3. Amount Splitting: Large benefit requests may be split across multiple contributors
  4. Timeout Protection: If a contribution isn't completed within the allocated time, it's reassigned
The system ensures fair treatment - no favoritism, no manual intervention.
Can I cancel my contribution?
Cancellation is only possible before matching:
  • Pending (not yet matched): Can be cancelled freely from your dashboard
  • Matched with beneficiary: Cannot be cancelled - the system has committed your funds to another member
  • Payment in progress or Completed: Cannot be cancelled or reversed

Once your contribution is matched with a beneficiary, cancellation is not possible because the beneficiary is depending on your payment. Please ensure you are ready to complete the payment before making a contribution.

You can view and cancel pending contributions from the Transactions section in your dashboard.
What happens if my benefit payment is delayed?
If your benefit payment is delayed:
  1. Grace Period: Contributors have a time window to complete payment
  2. Escalation: If the contributor fails, your match is automatically reassigned
  3. Community Chat: You can communicate with your match to resolve issues
  4. Mutawalli Support: Contact your Jamaa's Mutawalli for assistance
Most payments complete within 24-48 hours of matching.
Jamaas (Communities)
What is a Jamaa?
A Jamaa is a community within Jamaa Waqf. Each Jamaa:
  • Has its own members and leadership (Mutawalli)
  • Manages contributions and benefits within the community
  • Can invest collectively in Waqf Projects
  • Provides a support network for members
Think of it as a financial cooperative within the larger Jamaa Waqf ecosystem.
How do I join a Jamaa?
There are two ways to join a Jamaa:
  1. Browse Communities: Visit the Communities page and request to join
  2. Invitation Link: Join via a link shared by an existing member
Some Jamaas are open (anyone can join), while others require approval from the Mutawalli.
Who is a Mutawalli?
A Mutawalli is a trusted advisor and guide on Jamaa Waqf. Every member is assigned at least one Mutawalli who serves as their personal advisor.

As your personal advisor, a Mutawalli:

  • Guides you through your first contributions and benefits
  • Answers your questions and provides support
  • Helps resolve any issues or disputes
  • Communicates with you via Conversations

Mutawallis can also lead communities (Jamaas):

  • Only Mutawallis can create and manage Jamaas
  • Approving new member requests to their Jamaa
  • Managing community settings and announcements
  • Overseeing Waqf Project investments for the Jamaa
The term "Mutawalli" comes from Islamic tradition - it means "trustee" or "guardian." Your Mutawalli is here to help you succeed on your Jamaa Waqf journey.
Can I be a member of multiple Jamaas?
Yes! You can be a member of multiple Jamaas. However:
  • Each contribution is associated with one Jamaa
  • You can switch between Jamaas from your dashboard
  • Your transaction history is maintained per Jamaa
This allows you to participate in different communities based on your interests.
How do I create my own Jamaa?
Creating a Jamaa requires:
  1. Application: Submit a request to become a Mutawalli
  2. Verification: Our team will verify your identity and intentions
  3. Training: Complete our Mutawalli orientation
  4. Launch: Set up your Jamaa and invite members
Contact support@jamaawaqf.com to start the process.
Waqf Projects & Investments
What are Waqf Projects?
Waqf Projects are community investment opportunities where members pool funds to invest in:
  • Real Estate: Rental properties, commercial buildings
  • Businesses: Community-owned enterprises
  • Agriculture: Farming and food production
  • Infrastructure: Schools, clinics, markets
Profits are distributed to stakeholders, and a portion goes to community welfare.
Waqf is a form of perpetual charity - assets benefit the community forever.
How do I invest in a Waqf Project?
  1. Browse available projects in the Projects page
  2. Review the project details, returns, and timeline
  3. Purchase "stakes" (units) in the project
  4. Track your investment on the My Investments page
  5. Receive returns based on your stake percentage
Each project has a minimum stake amount and funding target.
What returns can I expect from Waqf Projects?
Returns vary by project type:
  • Real Estate: Rental income distributed quarterly
  • Business Ventures: Profit sharing based on performance
  • Fixed Return Projects: Predetermined return rate
All investments carry risk. Past performance doesn't guarantee future returns. Review each project's risk assessment before investing.
Can I withdraw my Waqf Project investment?
Withdrawal policies depend on the project:
  • During Funding: Full refund if target isn't met
  • Active Projects: May have lock-in periods
  • Stake Transfer: Some projects allow selling your stake to other members
Check each project's terms before investing.
Payments & Transactions
What payment methods are supported?
Mobile Money:
  • MTN Mobile Money - Uganda's most widely used
  • Airtel Money - Alternative mobile money option
Bank Transfer:
  • Direct bank-to-bank transfers
  • All major Ugandan banks supported
Payments are peer-to-peer - you pay directly to the recipient, not to the platform.
Are there any platform fees?
No platform fees for contributions and benefits. You only pay:
  • Mobile Money charges: Standard provider fees (typically 1-2%)
  • Bank transfer fees: Your bank's standard charges
Jamaa Waqf sustains itself through Waqf Project management fees, not user transaction fees.
How do I confirm receiving payment?
When you receive a benefit payment:
  1. Check your Mobile Money or bank account
  2. Go to your Dashboard and find the transaction
  3. Click "Confirm Receipt"
  4. Rate your experience with the provider
Always confirm receipt promptly. Unconfirmed payments may cause delays for other members.
What if I sent payment to the wrong number?
If you accidentally sent payment to the wrong number:
  1. Do NOT mark as completed in the system
  2. Contact your Mobile Money provider immediately for reversal
  3. Report the issue to your Mutawalli
  4. Open a support ticket with transaction details
Always double-check recipient details before sending payment!
How long does the payment confirmation take?
  • Mobile Money: Instant (within seconds)
  • Bank Transfer: Same day or next business day
  • System Update: Real-time after you confirm
Once you confirm receipt, the contributor's benefit eligibility starts immediately.
Security & Account
How secure is my account?
We implement multiple layers of security:
  • Phone Verification: Required for all accounts
  • Encrypted Connections: All data transmitted via HTTPS
  • Secure Storage: Passwords are hashed, never stored in plain text
  • Session Management: Automatic logout after inactivity
  • Activity Logs: Track all account actions
What if I forget my password?
  1. Go to the Sign In page
  2. Click "Forgot Password"
  3. Enter your registered email or phone
  4. Follow the reset instructions sent to you
For security, password reset links expire after 24 hours.
How do I change my payment details?
  1. Go to Profile → Settings
  2. Select "Payment Methods"
  3. Add, edit, or remove payment details
  4. Set your preferred payment method
Cannot change payment details while you have active matched transactions.
Is my personal information shared?
Your privacy is important to us:
  • Shared with matches: Name and payment details (for transactions)
  • Shared with Mutawalli: Basic profile info for community management
  • Never shared: Password, detailed activity, full transaction history
  • Never sold: We don't sell your data to third parties
Read our Privacy Policy for full details.
How do I report suspicious activity?
If you notice suspicious activity:
  1. Immediate: Contact your Mutawalli
  2. Report: Use the Report button on transactions
  3. Email: security@jamaawaqf.com
  4. Chat: Use our live support chat
We take fraud seriously and investigate all reports promptly.
Support & Help
How do I contact support?
Multiple support channels available:
  • Live Chat: Click the chat icon on any page (24/7)
  • WhatsApp: +256 700 000 000
  • Email: support@jamaawaqf.com
  • Phone: +256 700 000 000
  • Community: Contact your Jamaa's Mutawalli
What should I do if I have a dispute with another member?
Our dispute resolution process:
  1. Direct Chat: Try resolving via the transaction chat first
  2. Mutawalli Escalation: Your Mutawalli can mediate
  3. Support Ticket: File a formal complaint with evidence
  4. Investigation: Our team reviews transaction records
  5. Resolution: Decision communicated to both parties
Most disputes are resolved within 48-72 hours.
How do I share feedback or suggestions?
We love hearing from our community:
  • Jamaa Voices: Share your story on our Voices page
  • Feature Requests: Email suggestions@jamaawaqf.com
  • Bug Reports: Use the feedback form in Settings
  • Social Media: Tag us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
Your feedback helps us improve the platform for everyone!
Is there a mobile app?
Our mobile apps are coming soon! For now:
  • Mobile Web: jamaawaqf.com works great on mobile browsers
  • Add to Home Screen: Install as a web app on Android/iOS
  • SMS Notifications: Get alerts via text message
Android and iOS apps are on our roadmap for 2026!
Can I delete my account?
Yes, you can request account deletion:
  1. Complete all pending transactions
  2. Withdraw from any Waqf Projects
  3. Go to Settings → Account → Delete Account
  4. Confirm your decision
Account deletion is permanent. Your data will be anonymized after 30 days per our data retention policy.

Still have questions?

Our support team is available 24/7 to help you