Waqf, a perpetual charity endowment with strong roots in Islamic socioeconomic theory, has resurfaced as a practical and multifaceted approach to tackling the enduring and intricate reality of poverty throughout Africa. Waqf institutions have a long history on the continent, but their developmental potential is still largely untapped because of shoddy legislative frameworks, disjointed administration systems, and low public awareness. This study investigates waqf’s potential to serve as a comprehensive strategy for reducing poverty that can produce long-term, sustainable social benefits. The study employed a qualitative research design backed by doctrinal analysis, historical review, and thematic assessment of modern waqf practices. The findings demonstrate how reviving waqf institutions in Africa through contemporary financial models like cash waqf, corporate waqf, and digital waqf platforms can increase funding for necessary services while empowering underprivileged populations through micro-enterprise financing, skill development, and entrepreneurship support. Furthermore, the study contends that waqf’s focus on distributive justice and social solidarity is consistent with modern development frameworks, such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially those pertaining to poverty alleviation, decent labour, high-quality education, and decreased inequality. It concludes that waqf offers a morally good and community-driven framework that can restore dignity, resilience, and inclusive progress throughout African countries, in addition to an economically sound method of reducing poverty.
Tag: Articles
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Waqf as a Multidimensional Poverty-Alleviation Mechanism in Africa
Waqf, a perpetual charity endowment with strong roots in Islamic socioeconomic theory, has resurfaced as a practical and multifaceted approach to tackling the enduring and intricate reality of poverty throughout Africa. Waqf institutions have a long history on the continent, but their developmental potential is still largely untapped because of shoddy legislative frameworks, disjointed administration systems, and low public awareness. This study investigates waqf’s potential to serve as a comprehensive strategy for reducing poverty that can produce long-term, sustainable social benefits. The study employed a qualitative research design backed by doctrinal analysis, historical review, and thematic assessment of modern waqf practices. The findings demonstrate how reviving waqf institutions in Africa through contemporary financial models like cash waqf, corporate waqf, and digital waqf platforms can increase funding for necessary services while empowering underprivileged populations through micro-enterprise financing, skill development, and entrepreneurship support. Furthermore, the study contends that waqf’s focus on distributive justice and social solidarity is consistent with modern development frameworks, such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially those pertaining to poverty alleviation, decent labour, high-quality education, and decreased inequality. It concludes that waqf offers a morally good and community-driven framework that can restore dignity, resilience, and inclusive progress throughout African countries, in addition to an economically sound method of reducing poverty.
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Digital Leadership of School Principals in Strengthening the Learning Ecosystem in the Era of the Merdeka Curriculum at Primary Schools
The digital leadership of school principals plays a crucial role in strengthening the learning ecosystem in the era of the Merdeka Curriculum, especially in primary schools that are adapting to the use of educational technology. The Merdeka Curriculum emphasizes flexibility, project-based learning, and the use of digital tools to support more independent and meaningful learning processes. In this context, school principals act as digital leaders who not only manage schools but also guide the technological vision, enhance teacher competencies, and foster an innovative and responsive school culture in line with digital developments.This study employed a quantitative descriptive approach through surveys conducted with 120 primary school teachers across three districts/cities. The findings revealed three key results. First, 78% of teachers reported an improvement in their competency in using learning applications following the implementation of digital leadership policies by school principals. Second, 72% of schools reported increased collaboration between teachers and parents through school digital platforms, which positively impacted student engagement in learning. Third, 81% of principals utilized digital data (learning dashboards, online assessments, and daily reports) for faster decision-making regarding students’ learning needs. These findings reinforce that digital leadership significantly contributes to the successful implementation of the Merdeka Curriculum and creates a learning ecosystem that is inclusive, adaptive, and relevant to the demands of 21st-century education.
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The Relevance of Waqf in Supporting Environmental Education and Sustainable Development
» Journal of Regional Development and Technology Initiatives
Background: Climate change and environmental degradation have become major worldwide issues, particularly in poorer nations. There are still gaps in funding and community-level instruction for sustainable environmental practices, despite global commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Although the Islamic institution of waqf, a type of perpetual charity endowment, has long been important for social welfare, little is known about how it might help with sustainability and environmental education. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the applicability and potential of waqf in advancing sustainable development and environmental education. It looks at how waqf can be set up and used to support environmental initiatives, ecological literacy, and awareness-raising initiatives both inside and outside of Muslim communities. Methodology: Using content analysis of original Islamic law sources, historical case studies, and modern waqf models from nations like Malaysia, Indonesia, and Turkey, a qualitative research approach was used. To learn more about real-world applications and difficulties, semi-structured interviews were also done with community leaders, environmental academics, and waqf officials. Findings: By creating eco-friendly schools, assisting research facilities, financing green technology, and supporting awareness campaigns based on Islamic ecological ideals, waqf can make a substantial contribution to environmental education and sustainable development, according to the study. Examples from history show that waqf holdings were historically utilized to protect public amenities and natural resources like forests and water sources. In certain nations with a majority of Muslims, contemporary waqf organizations are already starting to adjust to sustainability goals. However, because of a lack of knowledge, legal restrictions, and a lack of creativity in waqf management, this integration is still quite low. Limitations: The scope of this study focuses on a few Muslim-majority nations with operational waqf organizations. Access to waqf administrative documents and some parties’ reluctance to reveal financial strategies are further barriers to empirical data. Originality: Waqf is an underutilized financial and educational tool for promoting sustainability and environmental care. Policy changes, community involvement, and strategic alliances that match waqf with international sustainability goals and Islamic environmental norms are necessary to optimize its impact.
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Driving Global Transformation through Waqf for a Sustainable Future
In Islamic civilization, one of the most persistent systems for promoting social welfare and economic fairness is the idea of waqf, or Islamic endowment. Long before the emergence of contemporary state welfare systems, Waqf organizations provided funding for social infrastructure, healthcare, education, and water systems, establishing the groundwork for sustainable communal development. This paper explores how Waqf revitalization can provide a revolutionary paradigm for accomplishing 21st-century global sustainability objectives. The study places Waqf in the larger context of ethical finance, social innovation, and sustainable development by utilizing qualitative and comparative analysis. Through an examination of case studies from Malaysia, Indonesia, Turkey, and new projects in Nigeria, the study shows how productive Waqf can promote social resilience, environmental responsibility, and economic inclusion when it is in line with modern financial tools and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the UN. According to the research findings, Waqf offers a distinctive institutional and moral model for fusing spirituality with contemporary development paradigms because it is a faith-based and values-driven organization. The study comes to the conclusion that Waqf governance can become a worldwide tool of ethical finance and sustainable transformation by being revived and modernized through legal reform, digital transparency, and cross-sector collaboration. The study adds to the current body of knowledge on Islamic social finance and presents Waqf as a feasible route to a more just, inclusive, and sustainable future for all people.
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Driving Global Transformation through Waqf for a Sustainable Future
In Islamic civilization, one of the most persistent systems for promoting social welfare and economic fairness is the idea of waqf, or Islamic endowment. Long before the emergence of contemporary state welfare systems, Waqf organizations provided funding for social infrastructure, healthcare, education, and water systems, establishing the groundwork for sustainable communal development. This paper explores how Waqf revitalization can provide a revolutionary paradigm for accomplishing 21st-century global sustainability objectives. The study places Waqf in the larger context of ethical finance, social innovation, and sustainable development by utilizing qualitative and comparative analysis. Through an examination of case studies from Malaysia, Indonesia, Turkey, and new projects in Nigeria, the study shows how productive Waqf can promote social resilience, environmental responsibility, and economic inclusion when it is in line with modern financial tools and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the UN. According to the research findings, Waqf offers a distinctive institutional and moral model for fusing spirituality with contemporary development paradigms because it is a faith-based and values-driven organization. The study comes to the conclusion that Waqf governance can become a worldwide tool of ethical finance and sustainable transformation by being revived and modernized through legal reform, digital transparency, and cross-sector collaboration. The study adds to the current body of knowledge on Islamic social finance and presents Waqf as a feasible route to a more just, inclusive, and sustainable future for all people.
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The Role of Waqf in Agricultural Development and Modernization in North-Eastern Nigeria
Most people in North-Eastern Nigeria still rely on agriculture as their main source of income, but the industry faces several obstacles, including low productivity, antiquated farming methods, restricted access to financing, and the effects of climate change and insecurity. The function of waqf, or Islamic endowment, as a long-term tool for advancing regional agricultural modernization and development is examined in this paper. The paper examines how waqf can be strategically repurposed and used to promote irrigation projects, mechanized farming, land acquisition, and smallholder farmers’ empowerment. It is grounded on Islamic economic principles and is backed by empirical case analysis. Qualitative interviews with waqf administrators, agricultural specialists, religious leaders, and farmers from a few states in the Northeast, such as Borno, Gombe, and Yobe, were used. Additionally, quantitative information from waqf foundations and agricultural institutions was examined. The results show that although waqf is currently underutilized in agriculture, there is a great deal of opportunity to mobilize cash waqf donations and idle waqf lands for farmer training, infrastructure development, and agricultural financing. Furthermore, incorporating waqf into current frameworks for rural development may improve rural livelihoods, employment, and food security. The study comes to the conclusion that mainstreaming waqf into the agricultural sector requires strong institutional reforms, legal frameworks, and public awareness. In order to maximize impact, it suggests modernizing waqf land administration, forming alliances between waqf boards and agricultural cooperatives, and creating waqf-based Agricultural Development Funds. This study adds to the body of knowledge on Islamic social finance and rural development by introducing waqf as a practical and moral means of transforming agriculture in areas impacted by conflict and experiencing economic hardship.
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The Role of Waqf in Agricultural Development and Modernization in North-Eastern Nigeria
Most people in North-Eastern Nigeria still rely on agriculture as their main source of income, but the industry faces several obstacles, including low productivity, antiquated farming methods, restricted access to financing, and the effects of climate change and insecurity. The function of waqf, or Islamic endowment, as a long-term tool for advancing regional agricultural modernization and development is examined in this paper. The paper examines how waqf can be strategically repurposed and used to promote irrigation projects, mechanized farming, land acquisition, and smallholder farmers’ empowerment. It is grounded on Islamic economic principles and is backed by empirical case analysis. Qualitative interviews with waqf administrators, agricultural specialists, religious leaders, and farmers from a few states in the Northeast, such as Borno, Gombe, and Yobe, were used. Additionally, quantitative information from waqf foundations and agricultural institutions was examined. The results show that although waqf is currently underutilized in agriculture, there is a great deal of opportunity to mobilize cash waqf donations and idle waqf lands for farmer training, infrastructure development, and agricultural financing. Furthermore, incorporating waqf into current frameworks for rural development may improve rural livelihoods, employment, and food security. The study comes to the conclusion that mainstreaming waqf into the agricultural sector requires strong institutional reforms, legal frameworks, and public awareness. In order to maximize impact, it suggests modernizing waqf land administration, forming alliances between waqf boards and agricultural cooperatives, and creating waqf-based Agricultural Development Funds. This study adds to the body of knowledge on Islamic social finance and rural development by introducing waqf as a practical and moral means of transforming agriculture in areas impacted by conflict and experiencing economic hardship.
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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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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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Humanitarian and Beyond States Diplomacy: Society as an Emerging Global Actor
The evolution of global interaction in the 21st century reveals a widening gap between the complexity of contemporary crises and the capacity of traditional political diplomacy to address them. Geopolitical rivalries, institutional stagnation, and resource-extractive economic models have created a climate of diplomatic fatigue, where state-centered responses often fall short of delivering timely or humane solutions. Within this vacuum, civil society has emerged as a dynamic and influential actor capable of reshaping global engagement. Humanitarian organizations, volunteer networks, faith-based groups, and transnational advocacy coalitions now mobilize across borders to address urgent human needs, challenge injustices, and promote shared ethical norms. This paper conceptualizes “humanitarian and beyond-states diplomacy” as an alternative paradigm in which diplomatic influence is exercised not only through formal institutions but through societal initiative, moral persuasion, and collective action. It examines how civil society has moved from the periphery to the center of global affairs by negotiating humanitarian access, advocating for vulnerable populations, and generating new norms of solidarity and responsibility. Rather than operating within the limits of state sovereignty or economic interest, these actors draw legitimacy from empathy, global citizenship, and the moral urgency of human protection. The study argues that humanitarian diplomacy from below offers a transformative approach to international cooperation, one capable of renewing compassion, rebuilding trust, and addressing crises that have outpaced traditional diplomatic mechanisms. By analyzing this shift, the paper underscores the rising significance of society as an emerging global actor and highlights the potential of humanitarian engagement to redefine the future of diplomacy.
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Ahmad Dahlan and the Muhammadiyah Movement: Reform Ideas in a Cultural and Historical Context
» AL-IMAM: Journal on Islamic Studies, Civilization and Learning Societies
The paper aims to analyze the influence of Kiyai Haji Ahmad Dahlan (1868-1923) in inaugurating Islamic modernism in Indonesia by investigating his role and involvement in Muhammadiyah. The modern reform movement was inspired by profound moral and religious factors and its puritanical cause leading to the formation of Muhammadiyah in 18 November 1912. The objective of study is to reveal the underlying philosophy and framework that inspired the religious struggle of Muhammadiyah and the pioneering role of Ahmad Dahlan in organizing its modern ideal and social spirit. The study is based on qualitative framework in the form of literature survey that analyze technical and scientific data using empirical, descriptive and historical approaches. The finding shows that Ahmad Dahlan had bring decisive impact on Islamic modernism by bringing into perspective the tawhidic and puritanical aspect of Muhammadiyah that projected its modern and ethical tradition and consciousness. Its rising influence in modern context was driven by an extensive network of Muhammadiyah’s activist and missionaries that help to realize its dakwah aspiration that emphasized on moral and intellectual development and its meaningful and practical impact on society. It highlighted the social aspect that drive the cosmopolitan vision of Muhammadiyah and the strength of its organization, widely held as the largest and most organized and systematic Islamic movement in the world.