Women economic empowerment has been at the heart of global discussions about development owing to the critical roles it plays in poverty alleviation, household welfare, inclusive economic development and growth. Nevertheless, an important proportion of women, especially in developing countries, still face poor access to financial services, productive assets and financial opportunities. Their entrepreneurship potentials continue to be untapped due to their poor access to capital. Limited financial resources and collateral requirements prevent poor women from accessing Conventional financing options. As part of the Islamic financial framework, zakah, waqf, sadaqa, and Islamic micro-financing are useful tools for social justice and promoting equal distribution of wealth. Hence this paper aims to present the Integrated Women Islamic Social Finance Empowerment Framework (IWISE) which is an effort to combine the elements of Islamic social finance with women empowerment entrepreneurship and capacity development into a single cohesive model. This study employs a qualitative research approach. The primary data collection consists of document analysis of Islamic classical legal texts, and reviews of current relevant literatures on Islamic social finance, women entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, micro financing and poverty alleviation. The study employs conceptual and analytical method to synthesis existing body of knowledge and put forward an integrate Islamic social finance for women’s economic development. Study shows that better integration of Zakah and Waqf Institutions, Islamic micro-financing institutions, governments and civil society could improve women access to finance, support the provision of business development, vocational skills, digital literacy, and other opportunities in the market place. Productive endowments (waqf) and zakat, could sustain entrepreneurial activities for women. This approach is expected to create synergistic and collaborative partnerships to advance women entrepreneurship, financially include women in the economy and sustainably enhance their livelihoods. This study adds to the existing body of literature on Islamic social finance through proposing a novel model of Integrated Women’s Islamic Social Finance Empowerment (IWISE) Frame work that strategically combine zakat, waqf and Islamic micro finance with capacity development and partnerships initiatives in the sphere of women entrepreneurship and economic development. This framework will provide a policy road map for policy makers, Islamic institutions and entrepreneurs for effective utilization of Islamic philanthropic and financial resources to ensure that Islamic social Finance become instruments of inclusive and sustainable human development through empowerments of women.
Tag: Islamic social finance
-
From Welfare to Human Flourishing: Maqasid al-Shariah as the Nexus of Islamic Social Finance, Da’wah, and Sustainable Development
In recent years, there has been increased interest in the fields of Islamic Social Finance (ISF) and Sustainable Development. However, these fields have been considered separately, lacking an integrated approach that emphasizes the role of Da’wah as a tool for transformative change for the ethical and social betterment of society. Such fragmentation ignores the broader perspective of Maqasid al-Shariah which aspires not only for material progress, but also for the moral, social and complete human flourishing (falah). This article aims to utilize the Maqasid al-Shariah framework as the normative and strategic tool which integrates Islamic Social Finance, Da’wah, and Sustainable Development as a unified model for development. Adopting a qualitative doctrinal methodology utilizing thematic analysis of the Qur’an, Sunnah, classic juristic and contemporary literatures, this study analyzes how zakah, waqf, sadaqah, qard al-hasan, Da’wah institutions and sustainable development practices play complementary roles in achieving Maqasid al-Shariah. This study argued that Islamic Social Finance should not be understood merely as poverty alleviation but rather as a catalyst for change which works alongside Da’wah as interconnected mechanisms for enhancing human dignity, social justice, ethical reform and social well-being for human beings and the protection of the environment for future generation. The Maqasid-based conceptual framework of Islamic development is presented for policy makers to govern and manage institution towards preserving and protecting: the religion, the life, the intellect, the lineage, the wealth, the dignity, the justice, and the environment. The paper conclude that an integration of ethical transformation and Islamic social Finance under the canopy of the Maqasid al-Shariah, would represent a more holistic approach to sustainable development than models solely focused on economic progress, and thus contributing to the ongoing debate on the Islamic development theory and practice.
-
From Maqasid al-Shariah to the Sustainable Development Goals: Repositioning Islamic Economics as a Framework for Inclusive and Sustainable Human Development
This paper examines the potential of the ‘Maqasid al-Shariah’ to serve as a moral and institutional framework that contributes towards meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This paper, aims to present the Islamic economic system as a comprehensive framework to promote inclusive growth, social justice and sustainable human well being and thus provides an Islamic integrative framework to tackle the global Sustainable development challenges. This research adopts qualitative approach of research, that mostly depends on literature review, which encompasses the study of classical sources of Islamic literature as well as current publications on Islamic Economics, Maqasid al-Shariah, international development policy, social finance. A conceptual and analytical technique would be used to build on current body of research, to conceptualize the bridge between the principles of Islamic Economics and a broader set of global sustainable development goals. The result shows that Islamic economics has a moral and institutional foundation towards sustainable development; greater than the current economic growth focused on development models. Several principles in Islamic economics like, justice (adl), public interest (maslahah), co-operation and assistance (takaful), trusteeship (khilafah) as well as moderation (wasatiyyah) are in close correlation with the aspirations of SDGs, and take the SDGs further with moral and spiritual context. Islamic social finance instruments like Zakah, Waqf and Sadaqah can also serve as significant tools to implement SDGs in the context of poverty eradication, financial inclusion, education and health services, as well as environmental health and resilience of the economy to tacle the future challenges. Based on the above discussion, the paper proposes a conceptual model titled, ‘Maqasid-SDG Integrated Development framework (MSIDF)’, that could be utilized as guidelines to align the Islamic economics institution to achieving a sustainable and decent human well being. The study contributes to the existing body of knowledge by changing the scope of the study from an examination of Islamic finance to the exploration of the potential of Islamic economics to provide a comprehensive ethical framework for a sustainable and inclusive development in the world.
-
Crowdfunding Meets Islamic Social Finance: Integrating Zakah, Waqf, Sadaqah, and FinTech for Sustainable Community Development
This paper explores the use of FinTech-enabled crowdfunding platforms to integrate Islamic social finance instruments with other similar instruments to enhance sustainable community development. It introduces the Integrated Islamic Crowdfunding and Social Finance Framework (IICSF) to integrate zakah, waqf, sadaqah, and digital crowdfunding to strengthen financial inclusion, institutional transparency, community involvement and sustainable socio-economic development. This study adopts a qualitative research methodology based on document analysis of classical Islamic legal sources and modern literature in Islamic social finance, FinTech, digital philanthropy and sustainable development. The study adopts a conceptual and analytical approach that combines classic Islamic philanthropic principles with cutting-edge digital financial technologies and integrates fragmented streams of scholarship on these areas into an integrative framework. The study found that integrating Islamic social finance with digital crowdfunding may strengthen resource mobilisation, enhance financial transparency, improve efficiency and accountability, encourage donor participation, distribute charitable funds equitably. FinTech such as mobile payment systems, artificial intelligence, block-chain, smart contracts, and digital identification management can build accountability and minimize operational expenses and fraud, as well as restoring public confidence. IICSF creates a collaborative setting amongst financial and civic organisations, including Islamic finance institutions, waqf boards, zakah agencies, crowdfunding portals, regulators, FinTech companies, social entrepreneurs, and the local community. It can also facilitate the financing of poverty eradication, affordable housing and education programmes, access to healthcare, climate action, youth entrepreneurship, and social ventures, among others, and has the potential to contribute significantly to a more inclusive and sustainable community development. This study introduces for the first time the Integrated Islamic Crowdfunding and Social Finance Framework (IICSF) as a comprehensive conceptual model for the integration of Islamic social finance instruments of zakah, waqf, and sadaqah, with FinTech-enabled crowdfunding. The framework addresses how Islamic philanthropic organisations could utilize digital financial technologies to foster greater financial inclusion, improved institutional accountability and performance, community participation and accelerated development. The integrative framework provides a model for a modern Islamic social finance approach capable of meeting social needs of contemporary global societies.
-
Crowdfunding Meets Islamic Social Finance: Integrating Zakah, Waqf, Sadaqah, and FinTech for Sustainable Community Development
This paper explores the use of FinTech-enabled crowdfunding platforms to integrate Islamic social finance instruments with other similar instruments to enhance sustainable community development. It introduces the Integrated Islamic Crowdfunding and Social Finance Framework (IICSF) to integrate zakah, waqf, sadaqah, and digital crowdfunding to strengthen financial inclusion, institutional transparency, community involvement and sustainable socio-economic development. This study adopts a qualitative research methodology based on document analysis of classical Islamic legal sources and modern literature in Islamic social finance, FinTech, digital philanthropy and sustainable development. The study adopts a conceptual and analytical approach that combines classic Islamic philanthropic principles with cutting-edge digital financial technologies and integrates fragmented streams of scholarship on these areas into an integrative framework. The study found that integrating Islamic social finance with digital crowdfunding may strengthen resource mobilisation, enhance financial transparency, improve efficiency and accountability, encourage donor participation, distribute charitable funds equitably. FinTech such as mobile payment systems, artificial intelligence, block-chain, smart contracts, and digital identification management can build accountability and minimize operational expenses and fraud, as well as restoring public confidence. IICSF creates a collaborative setting amongst financial and civic organisations, including Islamic finance institutions, waqf boards, zakah agencies, crowdfunding portals, regulators, FinTech companies, social entrepreneurs, and the local community. It can also facilitate the financing of poverty eradication, affordable housing and education programmes, access to healthcare, climate action, youth entrepreneurship, and social ventures, among others, and has the potential to contribute significantly to a more inclusive and sustainable community development. This study introduces for the first time the Integrated Islamic Crowdfunding and Social Finance Framework (IICSF) as a comprehensive conceptual model for the integration of Islamic social finance instruments of zakah, waqf, and sadaqah, with FinTech-enabled crowdfunding. The framework addresses how Islamic philanthropic organisations could utilize digital financial technologies to foster greater financial inclusion, improved institutional accountability and performance, community participation and accelerated development. The integrative framework provides a model for a modern Islamic social finance approach capable of meeting social needs of contemporary global societies.