Darulfunun Institute

Institute for Development, Research and Initiatives (IDRIS)

Tag: sustainable development

  • Maqasid al-Wahy and Waqf-Based Scientific Research Funding: Toward a Sustainable Framework for Knowledge Production and Human Development

    » AL-IMAM: Journal on Islamic Studies, Civilization and Learning Societies

    Scientific research is central to knowledge advancement, innovation, human wellbeing, and civilizational development, yet many research systems face persistent challenges of inadequate and unsustainable funding, institutional capacity, and research autonomy. Historically, waqf supported educational institutions, libraries, healthcare, and scholarly activities, but its potential as a contemporary mechanism for sustainable scientific research remains insufficiently explored. This study examines the potential integration of Maq??id al-Wa?y and waqf-based funding as an institutional framework for sustainable scientific research and knowledge production. A qualitative conceptual and analytical approach was employed through a critical review of classical and contemporary Islamic scholarship on Maq??id al-Wa?y, waqf, Islamic philanthropy, and contemporary research and innovation systems. The findings indicate that waqf can serve as a sustainable and complementary source of research funding when supported by effective governance, professional management, transparent allocation mechanisms, and clearly defined developmental objectives. The study consequently proposes a Maq??id al-Wa?y–Waqf Research Funding Framework for supporting interdisciplinary research in areas such as artificial intelligence, health sciences, environmental sustainability, biotechnology, digital technologies, and education. The framework emphasizes collaboration among researchers, universities, research institutions, policymakers, philanthropists, religious organizations, industry, and communities. The study contributes conceptually by repositioning waqf from predominantly charitable expenditure toward long-term social investment in knowledge production and innovation, while providing a revelation-centred ethical orientation for research directed toward human wellbeing and sustainable development. As a conceptual study, the framework requires empirical validation through future institutional, comparative, and field-based research.

  • Waqf as an Instrument of Islamic Governance: Advancing Social Justice, Conflict Resolution, and Sustainable Human Development

    » Perwakilan: Journal of Good Governance, Diplomacy, Customary Institutionalization and Social Networks

    Waqf has been among the most stable institutions in Islamic civilization, used in funding diverse services such as education, health care, social assistance, and public services and administration throughout Muslim societies. Despite this rich legacy, scholarship to date has primarily analyzed Waqf from legal, historical, and financial perspectives, with relatively little emphasis on the role of waqf as a form of governance and a tool for achieving sustainable public policy. This article conceptualizes Waqf as a tool for Islamic governance that can be leveraged to advance social justice, support conflict prevention processes, and achieve sustainable human development. Using a qualitative conceptual research design through an integrative review of literature, the study integrates Classical Islamic Political thought, maqasid al-Shariah, Institutional Governance theory, social capital theory, and Sustainable Development discourse into a multidimensional framework of analysis. This yields the Waqf Governance for Sustainable Development (WGSD) Framework. The study demonstrates how ethically governed waqf institutions can operationalize Islamic governance principles into demonstrable outcomes on human development through investments in such areas as education, health care, entrepreneurship, environment conservation, legal services, social security and community mediation. By reframing waqf from a philanthropic endeavor to a governance institution that complements existing states institutions, while addressing issues of social justice, equity, participation and public benefit, the article provides a new dimension to the waqf literature. The study concludes that reforming waqf governance, professionally managing it, leveraging new technologies and integrating waqf policy into broader public policy creates a potent mechanism for inclusive and sustainable development and lasting peace in Muslim societies.

  • Waqf, Shared Value and the Rise of Society Governance

    » Perwakilan: Journal of Good Governance, Diplomacy, Customary Institutionalization and Social Networks

    This article advances the argument that waqf (Islamic endowment) constitutes a foundational model of society governance, in which communities institutionalize moral responsibility into durable public capacity. Rather than viewing waqf solely as a charitable or financial instrument, the study conceptualizes it as a governance architecture that enables societies to mobilize, preserve, and deploy resources for collective welfare independent of fluctuating political regimes. Through a narrative-historical analysis, the article traces waqf’s evolution from the Prophetic model of trust-based stewardship and the institutional consolidation under the early caliphs, to its resilience during dynastic centralization, its fiscal institutionalization in the Ottoman period, and its contemporary transformation within modern regulatory frameworks. Central to the analysis is the proposition that waqf embodies an early and enduring form of shared value creation. By preserving endowed capital while continuously generating social returns, waqf integrates economic sustainability with public benefit. This dual function positions waqf as a bridge between moral economy and modern governance theory, aligning closely with contemporary debates on stakeholder capitalism, sustainable development, and civil society resilience. The article further argues that waqf is more than its challenges. While issues of governance reform, transparency, and asset optimization remain significant, these represent transitional adjustments rather than structural weaknesses. Properly institutionalized, waqf strengthens community autonomy, enhances accountability through trusteeship, and sustains intergenerational responsibility. In an era marked by fiscal strain and institutional distrust, waqf offers a society-centered governance paradigm capable of generating shared value and reinforcing collective capacity beyond the limits of state and market mechanisms.

  • 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.

  • Driving Global Transformation through Waqf for a Sustainable Future

    » WAQF Business Review

    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.

  • The Role of Waqf in Agricultural Development and Modernization in North-Eastern Nigeria

    » WAQF Business Review

    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.

  • The Legacy of Waqf: Foundation and Its Continuities

    » WAQF Business Review

    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.

  • Online Learning and Open Education: Transforming Beyond Digitalization

    » Journal of Regional Development and Technology Initiatives

    The global shift toward digital transformation has significantly accelerated the adoption of online learning and open education models. However, in an increasingly complex and fast-changing world (VUCA), digitalization alone is no longer sufficient as an objective. This article aims to explore how online learning and open education can evolve beyond digitalization by aligning with broader global challenges, trends, and emerging societal needs. Using a conceptual and literature-based approach, the paper examines how open education contributes to contemporary issues such as technological advancement, sustainability, regional development, inclusiveness, and public participation. In this context, open education is not merely defined by free access to digital platforms but rather as a paradigm shift toward collaboration, open knowledge, and democratized learning. Education is increasingly understood as a participatory and sustainable ecosystem, rather than a one-directional process. This study emphasizes that building an inclusive, adaptive, and future-relevant education system requires the integration of policy innovation, technological advancement, and values of openness. The article provides practical policy insights, implications, and strategic recommendations for transitioning from simple digital educational access to a development and transformation strategy, particularly in developing countries where educational inequality and sustainability gaps remain key concerns.