Addressing multidimensional poverty: A comparative analysis of integrated zakat and waqf models in Malaysia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55573/JISED.118731Keywords:
Multidimensional Poverty, Islamic Philanthropy, Islamic Social Finance, Socio Economic Development, Case StudyAbstract
Multidimensional poverty persists as a critical challenge to sustainable socio-economic development in Malaysia, necessitating innovative solutions beyond conventional monetary interventions. This study provides a comparative analysis of the integrated roles of Zakat (obligatory alms) and Waqf (endowment) as distinct yet complementary mechanisms in alleviating multidimensional poverty. This study conducts comparative case studies of three selected states: Melaka, Wilayah Persekutuan and Kedah. The states were selected based on their contrasting maturity levels in Zakat-Waqf institutional integration. The objectives are to analyse the practical governance, delivery systems and implementation hurdles. The findings indicate that while Zakat provides immediate, consumption-based relief, the capital-intensive nature of Waqf offers long-term, sustainable infrastructure for socio-economic empowerment. This study identifies structural gaps in the current integration and argues that a unified policy framework could significantly amplify their collective impact. This study adds to the discourse on Islamic social finance by offering a synergistic model that optimises resource allocation to address the multifaceted deprivation indicators among B40 households. The conclusion offers policy suggestions to strengthen interagency cooperation and boost the effectiveness of Zakat-Waqf distribution systems succinctly summarize the purpose of the manuscript, the methods used, the major results, and conclusions.
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References
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