Category: Insight

» IC Journal of Science, Technology and Society

The growing importance of digital technologies is revolutionising not only financial systems but also philanthropy and socio-economic development, all over the world. In response to this, technologies like AI, blockchain, FinTech, big data and smart contracts are altering financial resource mobilisation, management and distribution processes. Islamic finance and digital innovations has to embraced several digital technologies. This paper explores how digitisation can re-energise the institution of waqf and enhance its role to be one of the main pillars of the future Islamic financial system. The paper also conceptualises the Smart Digital Waqf Ecosystem (SDWE) to bridge Islamic philanthropy and contemporary technologies in order to improve the governance, transparency, efficiency, accountability and ultimately impact of waqf on social and economic well-being in the digitalised world. This qualitative research paper is documentary in nature and will draw on a range of primary Islamic classical jurisprudential sources as well as contemporary literatures regarding waqf, Islamic finance, digitisation and digital transformation, FinTech and blockchain and the sustainability concerns and development aims. Analytical and conceptual methodology approach is followed in order to synthesise current knowledge and formulate a framework in respect of digital waqf governance. The research suggests that digitisation offers unparalleled potential for broadening the engagement of waqf beyond the provision of essential services, such as funding education, healthcare, scientific research, and adequate housing. It is argued that blockchain could fortify transparency, trust and efficiency, given the immutability and transparency for transactions, thereby facilitating more efficient cross-border and intra-organisation donations. AI and big data could also potentially be adopted to better tailor waqf endowments to impact investment opportunities, enhance the effectiveness of investment allocation, assess risk and evaluate socio-economic impacts more effectively. The article therefore proposes the concept of the Smart Digital Waqf Ecosystem (SDWE), which conceptually links waqf institutions with Islamic financial institutions, FinTech providers, policy makers, regulators, researchers, entrepreneurs, academics and beneficiaries, to optimise performance, ensure governance and transparency and promote sustainable and inclusive social and economic outcomes.

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

This research is motivated by the realisation that Indonesia is currently navigating a crucial phase on the path to ‘Golden Indonesia 2045’, a pivotal moment that demands not only material progress but also the strengthening of the nation’s ideology, morality and spirituality. Pancasila, as the philosophical foundation of the state, faces serious challenges in practice, where its values are often reduced to mere formal symbols lacking any real transformative power. In this context, the two-dimensional integration of Pancasila with the transcendental values of the Qur’an is viewed as urgent, serving as a philosophical roadmap to guide national development that is just, civilised, and dignified. Qur’anic values such as tawhid, justice, brotherhood, consultation, and trustworthiness provide an ethical-spiritual foundation that is in harmony with the principles of Pancasila, whilst also serving as a pillar in responding to the challenges of globalisation, technological disruption, and moral crisis. The research method employed is qualitative, utilising a library research approach, through the examination of primary and secondary literature comprising the Qur’an and relevant academic studies. Research findings indicate that the integration of the two-dimensional principles of Pancasila and the transcendental values of the Qur’an can strengthen national practice, making Pancasila not merely a political consensus, but also a robust ethical and spiritual guide. This philosophical roadmap guides national development towards Golden Indonesia 2045 so that it is not solely oriented towards economic growth, but also towards the formation of outstanding, just, principled, religious, and globally competitive Indonesian citizens.

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

The Ma Anta Do’a tradition is a local form of celebration of the Prophet’s Birthday (Mawlid al-Nabi) practiced by the Muslim community in Ganggo Hilia Village, Bonjol District, Pasaman Regency. This tradition involves each family’s obligation to bring a jamba (food dish) to the mosque and the restriction of women’s entry after the procession. This study aims to analyze the implementation of this tradition from the perspective of the sociology of Islamic law. The study used a qualitative approach with field research, while data were collected through observation, interviews, and documentation. The results indicate that this tradition serves as a means of strengthening social solidarity, preserving local culture, and expressing love for the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). However, several practices within this tradition raise normative issues, particularly regarding the obligation to bring a jamba and the restriction of women from entering the mosque. From the perspective of Receptie Exit, customary practices must remain in line with Islamic law. Within the concept of ‘urf, the obligation to bring a jamba can be categorized as ‘urf sahih as long as it does not burden the community, while restricting women from entering the mosque has the potential to be ‘urf fasid’ because it contradicts the principle of justice in Islam. This research emphasizes the importance of reconstructing religious traditions while maintaining harmony between local culture and Islamic legal values.

» IC Journal of Education and Learning Development

Aim: This study examines how the objectives of divine revelation (Maqāṣid al-Waḥy) can provide a normative and ethical foundation for reorienting waqf from predominantly charitable provision toward a strategic mechanism for financing transformative education, scientific research, innovation, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It specifically explores the potential of integrating Maqāṣid al-Waḥy, waqf, and the SDGs to develop a sustainable and ethically grounded knowledge ecosystem. Methodology: The study adopts a qualitative integrative literature review and conceptual synthesis, drawing on Qur’anic principles, Prophetic traditions, classical Islamic scholarship on knowledge and waqf, contemporary literature on Islamic social finance, and international scholarship on sustainable education, research financing, innovation, and the SDGs. The literature is critically synthesized to identify conceptual linkages between revelation, knowledge development, waqf financing, and sustainable development. Results: The analysis demonstrates that Maqāṣid al-Waḥy provides an overarching epistemic and ethical orientation for the pursuit, preservation, dissemination, and application of beneficial knowledge, while waqf provides an institutionally sustainable mechanism for translating these objectives into long-term investment in education and research. On this basis, the study proposes the Maqāṣid al-Waḥy–Waqf Sustainable Knowledge Ecosystem (MW-SKE), which conceptually integrates revelation, knowledge production, waqf financing, educational transformation, scientific research, innovation, and sustainable development. The framework repositions waqf beyond conventional charitable provision toward strategic knowledge-financing infrastructure capable of supporting scholarships, research grants, academic institutions, innovation hubs, digital knowledge platforms, and interdisciplinary research. Conclusion/Novelty: The study concludes that integrating Maqāṣid al-Waḥy, waqf, and the SDGs offers a potentially transformative model for developing an inclusive, ethically grounded, resilient, and intergenerational knowledge economy. The principal novelty lies in extending Maqāṣid al-Waḥy into contemporary knowledge governance and connecting it systematically with waqf and sustainable development through the proposed MW-SKE framework. The framework provides a conceptual basis for policymakers, waqf institutions, universities, research organizations, and Islamic social finance practitioners to explore sustainable mechanisms for financing education, research, and innovation.

» IC Journal of Science, Technology and Society

The rapid digital transformation and proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI) are reshaping global retail landscapes, opening a new opportunities for efficiency, personal service, and value creation in the long run. Yet, this digital revolution in the retail sector poses significant challenges related to ethical purchasing, inclusive engagement, and sustainable financing for small and community-based businesses. In this context, Islamic social finance offers an alternative ethical blueprint to reconcile technology innovation with social equity and inclusive economic growth. This article explores innovative models of waqf (Islamic endowments) to cater the ethical demands of a sustainable and socially conscious digital retail ecosystem supported by AI and responsible business practices. The paper outline a new synergy between AI-enabled retail technologies, ethical retailing principles, and waqf-based financing schemes. Specifically, examine how AI applications such as predictive analytics, demand forecasting, digital marketplaces, and intelligent supply chain management could increase transparency, reduce waste, and enhance operational efficiencies in retail settings. When coupled with waqf-backed financing instruments, these innovations could provide lasting capital and infrastructural support to small retailers, social entrepreneurs, and low-income entrepreneurs that often lack access to mainstream funding. This article proposes a Waqf-AI Ethical Retail Framework, supported by theoretical foundations and cross-disciplinary evidence drawn from a growing corpus of real-world applications in fintech, Islamic philanthropy, and ethical retail ventures. It illustrates how digital waqf platforms, intelligent retail analytics powered by AI, and robust socially responsible governance structures could be coordinated to establish sustainable retail ecosystems that prioritize equity, inclusivity, and environmental sustainability. The research believes to contributes to the discourse on responsible digital transformation by highlighting the confluence of AI, ethical retail, and Islamic social finance. It draws attention to waqf’s transformative potential as an institution capable of driving innovation-based retail solutions while advancing the broader sustainable development agenda.

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

Divorce for Government Employees with Employment Agreements (PPPK) often faces controversy regarding the requirement for a superior’s permission letter, although this is not explicitly regulated in national legislation. This study aims to identify and analyze the existence of a superior’s permission letter for PPPK in divorce cases and to analyze judges’ perspectives on the application of this requirement at the Panyabungan Class II Religious Court. This study used qualitative methods with a field research approach. Primary data were collected through in-depth interviews with five judges (including Chief Justice Dr. Mirwan), court clerks, registration officers, and eighteen PPPK litigants. Secondary data were obtained from official documents such as Chief Justice’s Decrees, service brochures, case summaries, and related regulations. Data analysis was conducted using data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion-drawing techniques, while data validity was ensured through source triangulation. The results indicate that court policy requires a superior’s permission letter for PPPK at the registration stage as an administrative requirement. However, in court practice, the majority of judges do not consider this a barrier. Of the 18 PPPK cases from 2021 to September 11, 2025, only one case involved a judge actively requesting a permit. There is a sharp difference in the judges’ perspectives between the analogy with civil servants and the principle of public welfare versus the principle of legality and the protection of individual civil rights. Normatively, a permit for PPPK is merely an internal administrative policy that is not binding as a legal or formal requirement for litigation. This finding reveals a lack of synchronization between policy and practice, as well as potential legal uncertainty. The study recommends the establishment of clear and uniform national regulations to balance the orderliness of civil servant administration with the right of access to justice for PPPK.

» IC Journal of Education and Learning Development

Aim: This study evaluates the roles, strategies, and effectiveness of selected Muslim women’s organizations in promoting da’wah (Islamic propagation), education, and social welfare in Gombe State, Nigeria. Specifically, it examines the contributions of Women in Daʿwah, Nisa’us Sunnah fidda, awati ilallah, and the Sisters’ Forum of Gombe State University, with a view to understanding their contributions to religious awareness, educational development, humanitarian support, and community welfare. Methodology: The study adopts a qualitative research design using historical, descriptive, and empirical approaches. Data were collected through oral interviews with organization members and beneficiaries, documentary sources, and direct observation through participation in relevant seminars, schools, and conferences. These sources were examined to develop an in-depth understanding of the organizations’ activities, outreach strategies, contributions, and institutional challenges. Results: The findings indicate that the selected organizations have made significant contributions to da’wah, education, and social welfare across Gombe State. Their activities have expanded access to Islamic and formal education, provided humanitarian assistance to vulnerable populations, particularly in remote and underserved communities, and increased religious awareness through da’wah and educational programmes. The organizations have also contributed to strengthening social relationships and inter-ethnic unity among Muslim women. However, their effectiveness is constrained by inadequate funding, limited institutional support, insufficient facilities, and low public visibility. Conclusion/Novelty: The study concludes that Muslim women’s organizations are important but insufficiently recognized actors in religious, educational, and socio-economic development in Gombe State. Their community-based approach enables them to reach populations and address needs that may remain inadequately served by formal institutions. The novelty of the study lies in its focused evaluation of women-led Muslim organizations as integrated agents of da’wah, education, and social welfare, thereby highlighting their potential contribution to sustainable community development. The study recommends stronger inter-organizational networking, partnerships with government and non-governmental organizations, vocational and economic empowerment programmes, policy advocacy, expanded scholarship opportunities for Muslim girls, and greater investment in health education and community dialogue.

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

This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of critical thinking-based learning on the development of students’ critical reasoning skills in the learning of Hadith Arbain Nawawi at An Nur Islamic Boarding School, Banjarejo, Blora Regency. The study was motivated by the urgency of strengthening critical thinking skills in Islamic education amid contemporary educational challenges that require analytical, reflective, and argumentative competencies. This research employed a quantitative approach using a posttest-only control group design. The research sample consisted of 46 MTs-level students divided into an experimental class of 26 students and a control class of 20 students. Data collection was conducted through critical reasoning tests in the form of argumentative essays and HOTS-based case studies related to Hadith Arbain Nawawi materials. The data were analyzed using the Shapiro–Wilk normality test, Levene homogeneity test, and independent sample t-test with a significance level of 0.05. The findings revealed that the hypothesis test obtained a significance value of < 0.001 with a t-value of 4.453. These findings indicate a significant difference in critical reasoning skills between the experimental and control classes. This study concludes that critical thinking-based learning is effective in developing students’ analytical, argumentative, and reflective reasoning skills in the learning of Hadith Arbain Nawawi within the Islamic boarding school environment.