This study aims to construct a conceptual framework that explains how zakat contributes to shared prosperity and supports the development of a sustainable society. It seeks to model measurable links between zakat distribution and key social-sector indicators, such as poverty, education, employment, health, and household welfare, using the available national indicators. The study builds a conceptual framework that integrates zakat and shared prosperity within sustainability theory. The zakat is effective in reducing vulnerabilities and promoting shared prosperity within four objective indicators, which are reduced poverty, better education, improved health, and economic inclusion. This study is primarily conceptual, and therefore, it needs further simulated empirical modelling on the availability and quality of real-world datasets. Many national statistics data variables are not directly relevant as data sources for zakat impact, which can lead to more integrated data available for shared prosperity. The results can assist zakat institutions in improving targeting accuracy, designing evidence-based intervention programs, and aligning zakat distribution with national poverty-reduction strategies. Policymakers may use the framework to integrate zakat into broader social protection systems and data integration. By demonstrating how zakat contributes to shared prosperity, the study reinforces zakat’s role in reducing inequality, strengthening social cohesion, and enhancing the welfare of vulnerable groups. It also promotes a sustainable society where economic justice and moral responsibility converge. This study offers a unique combination of conceptual theory and empirical modelling for zakat effectiveness, supported by a measurable framework tied to national indicators. It is among the first to propose a scalable zakat–shared-prosperity model, enabling future studies to replicate, refine, and apply the approach in policy and institutional settings.
Author: Abdullah A Afifi
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Pens with a Purpose: Muslim Scholars and Writing Identity
Writing has always been a sacred and civilizational involvement in Islamic history, inspired by the command of Iqra’ (read) as the first revelation. Muslim scholars viewed writing not merely as a practical skill but as a mission by purpose activity that shaped identity, preserved divine knowledge, and built civilizations. This article explores the central role of writing in the development of Islamic intellectual tradition, emphasizing the intentionality behind Muslim scholarly texts. Writings were composed not only to teach knowledge, but also to counter falsehoods, initiate dialogue, document history, and inspire ethical living. From the particular compilation of hadith to philosophical debates, encyclopedias, and spiritual poetry, these works anchored Islamic thought and identity across centuries and geographies. The article categorizes the purposes behind Muslim writings and connects them to broader civilizational outcomes, such as the flourishing of knowledge in the Islamic Golden Age and the shaping of cultural memory through manuscript traditions. Using a narrative review methodology, this article draws upon classical and modern texts, tracing writing traditions from early Islamic scholars. It also uses textual analysis to identify the embedded purposes and strategies within selected writings. The article argues that the legacy of Muslim scholars’ “pens with a purpose” serves as a model for contemporary knowledge production in the Islamic worldview, especially in a digital age overwhelmed by information, yet hungry for wisdom, authenticity, and ethical guidance. Today’s Muslim writers and thinkers bear a renewed responsibility to write with clarity, truth, and purpose, so they can contribute not only to intellectual discourse but to ethical transformation and community resilience in an increasingly fragmented world.
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The Legacy of Waqf: Foundation and Its Continuities
Waqf (Islamic endowment) is one of the most profound socio-economic legacies of Islamic civilization. Rooted in the principle of voluntary asset dedication for public benefit, waqf has served as a cornerstone for institutional development in Muslim societies for over a millennium. The legacy is to describe how the foundational principles of waqf have been transmitted and adapted across different socio-legal contexts, producing parallel institutions that, while locally distinct, share their functional values. This paper explores waqf as a legacy, a foundational social institution embedded in Islamic thought and practice that continues to influence contemporary legal, economic, and governance structures. The study traces waqf’s historical evolution, its interrelationship with the Islamic concept of qard al-hasan (benevolent loan), and its intersection with land management, social justice, and state-building across different cultural and geographical contexts. Drawing from historical, legal, and institutional analysis, the article demonstrates how waqf inspired the emergence of similar mechanisms in global and Western societies, such as trusts and endowments. Furthermore, the article discusses the challenges facing waqf today, including asset fragmentation, governance issues, and underutilization. It also explores waqf’s potential as a strategic instrument for inclusive development, especially in education, healthcare, and social welfare. The research concludes that the waqf institution, when revitalized with modern governance tools and aligned with sustainability principles, offers a resilient and ethical model for long-term socio-economic empowerment and wealth redistribution.
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How Indonesia Should Go Further with Decentralization: Revisiting the Views and the Visions
Indonesia’s vast geography and cultural diversity pose long-standing challenges to the centralized governance systems. Following the collapse of the New Order regime in 1998, the country embarked on an ambitious decentralization campaign, transferring authority and resources from the central government to local governments through Laws No. 22 and 25 of 1999. Despite the progress made, recent trends suggest a drift back toward recentralization and inefficiencies in subnational governance. This article investigates how Indonesia should move forward with a deeper and more coherent decentralization policy, drawing insights from the ideas of key early independence-era thinkers, as well as the reform era. Using a qualitative historical-interpretive approach, the study analyzes political writings, speeches, and conceptual contributions of late figures, framed alongside policy and governance developments in post-Reformasi Indonesia. The findings reveal that decentralization was not merely an administrative concern but a philosophical and moral imperative for these thinkers. Hatta promoted village autonomy; Sjahrir advocated democratic pluralism; Malaka emphasized grassroots empowerment, while the reformists underscored decentralization as a pillar of democratic resilience. The study concludes that Indonesia’s decentralization project must go beyond partial devolution. It should embody the ethical and participatory principles rooted in the country’s intellectual tradition that work towards strengthening local democracy, fiscal independence, regional capability, and innovation. Reviving these foundational visions is vital to ensuring that decentralization serves not just efficiency, but also the quality of justice, inclusivity, prosperity, and national diversity.
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Waqf Business Model (WBM): Towards A Sustainable Social Business Model on The Mainstream Economics
The Waqf Business Model (WBM) represents an innovative and transformative approach to establishing a sustainable social business model within mainstream economics, rooted in Islamic economic principles. This paper explores the current state of waqf as an alternative model for social business, emphasizing its ability to combine social impact with long-term economic sustainability by preserving assets and generating ongoing revenue. It also advocates for integrating WBM into the mainstream economy to serve as a powerful mechanism for addressing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The paper highlights the challenges faced by traditional Islamic economic institutions, particularly waqf, which have struggled due to outdated management practices and a conceptual crisis regarding the role of waqf in modern economies. Revitalizing waqf institutions requires enhancing their capabilities and aligning them with contemporary business strategies. Additionally, this paper encourages future research to explore how WBM can be fully integrated into the existing economic ecosystem. In theory, WBM provides a framework for ethical and inclusive economies, while in practice, it has the potential to create self-sustaining institutions that reduce reliance on external aid, offering an innovative solution to global socio-economic challenges by blending sustainable innovation.
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Leader and the Leadership of the Prophet Muhammad: Strategy and Innovation in the Battle of Trench
This article examines Prophet Muhammad’s strategic and innovative leadership during the Battle of the Trench, a pivotal event in early Islamic history. Faced with a large confederate army, Muhammad adopted the unprecedented strategy of digging a trench around Medina, demonstrating his adaptability and inclusiveness by accepting a Persian companion’s suggestion, Salman al-Farsi. This tactic effectively neutralized the enemy’s advantage, highlighting Muhammad’s foresight and strategic acumen which can only be seen if we read the references in detail and feel the tense occurred on that day. The analysis of this article focuses on Muhammad’s leadership qualities, including visionary strategy, resilience, ethical conduct, and inspirational influence. These attributes were crucial in uniting and motivating the Muslim community under extreme adversity. The successful defence of Medina not only solidified the Muslim community but also set new precedents in military tactics and ethical warfare, influencing Islamic governance and leadership principles. The Battle of the Trench serves as a significant historical case study of strategic and ethical leadership shown by Muhammad in facing a direct enemy from outside and a potential internal enemy that turns up in that despairing situation. The insights drawn from Muhammad’s leadership approach are relevant to modern leadership and contemporary challenges, transcending religious and cultural contexts. This article contributes to the discourse on leadership, strategy, and crisis management, underscoring the enduring relevance of Muhammad’s leadership principles which have proven effective in saving the situation.
