Darulfunun Institute

Institute for Development, Research and Initiatives (IDRIS)

Category: Research Article

  • Digital Transformation in Islamic Economics: Opportunities, Challenges, and Future Research Directions

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

    Aims: This study aims to analyze the opportunities, challenges, and future research directions in the digital transformation of the Islamic economy, including the use of Islamic fintech, digital banking, blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI), and other financial technologies. Method: This research employs a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) method following PRISMA guidelines. The identification process yielded 3,546 articles, which were then screened and assessed for eligibility, ultimately producing 18 articles as the final sample for thematic analysis. Results: The results show that digital transformation offers opportunities such as increased efficiency, easier transactions, transparency, product and service innovation, and expanded Sharia financial inclusion. However, its implementation still faces several challenges, particularly regulations, Shariah compliance, cybersecurity, data protection, digital literacy, and infrastructure gaps. The study also demonstrates that maqashid al-shariah principles are important as a foundation in guiding technology development so that it is not only focused on economic efficiency but also brings benefits, justice, and sustainability. Conclusion/Novelty/Implications: The novelty of this research lies in its comprehensive mapping of digital transformation dimensions in the Islamic economy through an integrated SLR approach. The implications emphasize the need for regulatory harmonization, strengthening Shariah governance, and developing operational models for AI and blockchain applications. Future research should be directed towards empirical studies on AI, blockchain, CBDC, smart contracts, digital zakat and waqf, as well as developing Shariah governance models that are adaptive to technological advancements.

  • Exploitation of Public Figures’ Faces by AI Platforms as a Form of Unjust Enrichment: A Juridical Study within the Indonesian Legal System

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

    The commodification of public figures’ faces within generative AI ecosystems raises a question Indonesian law has yet to answer: who holds entitlement to the economic value extracted from a person’s likeness when platforms replicate and monetize it without meaningful consent. That gap frames an inquiry into the legal status of a public figure’s face as an economic asset, whether AI platforms’ use of it amounts to unjust enrichment, and how accountability should attach to the platforms involved. Through normative legal research grounded in the Copyright Law, the Electronic Information and Transactions Law, the Personal Data Protection Law, and Article 1365 of the Civil Code, the analysis asks how far systematic and teleological interpretation can reach an exploitation unfolding algorithmically rather than through conventional appropriation. A public figure’s face, the study finds, has shifted from a marker of identity into an intangible asset sustaining platform valuation, while existing legal regimes remain fragmented rather than complementary: copyright refuses to treat a face as a protectable work, and data protection law leans toward privacy rather than economic interest. That misalignment lets the four elements of unjust enrichment, enrichment, loss, causation, and absence of legal basis, be satisfied, and opens the possibility of qualifying the conduct as unlawful under Article 1365. The study proposes a layered accountability model of profit restitution, compensation, dataset transparency, and explicit consent, its novelty lying in positioning unjust enrichment as a distributive-justice framework for generative AI’s exploitation of identity, a terrain Indonesian legal scholarship has scarcely addressed.

  • Effect of MUI Fatwa on Environmentally Friendly Carbon Value Investment

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

    Climate change and increased carbon emissions demand the development of investment instruments that are not only oriented towards economic profits, but also pay attention to environmental sustainability and social welfare. The fatwa of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) on climate change control law provides a normative-religious foundation that places environmental protection, emission reduction, prevention of ecological damage, and human responsibility as a caliph as an important part of economic activities. This study aims to analyze the impact of the MUI Fatwa on carbon value investment from the perspective of sharia economic law and maq??id al-syar?’ah Jasser Auda. The research uses a juridical-normative method with a legislative, conceptual, and maq??id al-syar?’ah approach. The data was analyzed qualitatively through a study of the MUI fatwa, regulation of carbon economic values, and sharia economic and environmental law literature. The results of the study show that the MUI Fatwa has the potential to strengthen the ethical-religious legitimacy of carbon value investment through the principles of benefit, damage prevention (dar’u al-maf?sid), ecological responsibility, and sustainability. In the perspective of Jasser Auda’s maq??id system , carbon value investment can be directed towards achieving holistic, multidimensional, and sustainable benefits through the protection of lives, property, generations, and the environment. Thus, the MUI Fatwa has the potential to form a green investment orientation while strengthening the synergy between sharia principles, environmental protection, and sustainable economic development.

  • Constructing Civil Society in Surah Al-Baqarah: A Comparative Study of Tafsir al-Basith and Fi Zhilal al-Qur’an

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

    This study analyses the construction of civil society in Surah Al-Baqarah by comparing al-W??id?’s Tafs?r al-Bas?? and Sayyid Qutb’s F? ?il?l al-Qur’?n. It also identifies their convergences and divergences, the factors shaping their interpretations, and the relevance of the resulting framework to contemporary Muslim society. The study employs qualitative library research, comparative Qur’anic interpretation (muq?ran), and thematic grouping. The primary data comprise the two exegetes’ interpretations of verses in Surah Al-Baqarah related to social formation; the analysis proceeds through thematic classification, description, comparison, synthesis, and contextualisation. The findings identify seven clusters of principles: faith as the foundation, the mandate of stewardship, the civilisational critique of the Children of Israel, monotheism-based leadership, communal identity, social and legal regulation, and socio-economic solidarity and justice. Al-W??id? foregrounds normative and linguistic precision, whereas Sayyid Qutb emphasises social formation and civilisational transformation. The study’s originality lies in synthesising these two interpretive orientations into a model of civil society that combines normative certainty with transformative capacity. This framework is relevant to strengthening Muslim identity, social cohesion, accountable governance, justice, and collective welfare in contemporary contexts.

  • From Khilafah to Climate Action: Islamic Environmental Ethics and the Role of Mosques and Islamic Institutions in Sustainable Development in Northern Nigeria

    » WAQF Business Review

    Aim: This study examines the potential of Islamic environmental ethics to promote climate action and sustainable development in Northern Nigeria, with particular attention to the roles of mosques and Islamic institutions. Although Islamic teachings provide extensive principles concerning khilāfah (stewardship), amānah (trust), mīzān (balance), iṣlāḥ (reform), and the prohibition of fasād (environmental corruption), these principles remain insufficiently translated into systematic institutional environmental practices. The study therefore explores how Islamic institutions can transform environmental teachings into practical mechanisms for climate awareness, environmental conservation, and community-based sustainable development. Methodology: The study adopts a qualitative integrative literature review and conceptual synthesis. Relevant Qur’anic and Hadith texts, classical Islamic scholarship on environmental ethics and Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah, contemporary literature on Islam and environmental sustainability, and studies on climate change and sustainable development in Nigeria are critically analysed. Thematic analysis is used to identify Islamic environmental principles, institutional opportunities, implementation challenges, and pathways for translating religious teachings into practical climate action. Results: The findings indicate that mosques and Islamic institutions possess significant but underutilised potential to function as centres of environmental education, ethical mobilisation, community awareness, sustainable resource management, tree planting, waste reduction, water conservation, and climate-resilient livelihoods. However, limited environmental training among religious leaders, weak institutional coordination, inadequate funding, low environmental awareness, and the limited integration of ecological themes into Islamic education constrain this potential. Conclusions/Novelty: The study proposes an Islamic Environmental Stewardship and Climate Action Framework (IESCAF) linking khilāfah, amānah, mīzān, iṣlāḥ, and Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah with practical institutional climate interventions. The framework reconceptualises mosques and Islamic institutions as active agents of environmental stewardship and sustainable development rather than merely sites of worship and religious instruction, thereby offering a distinctive Islamic contribution to climate governance in Northern Nigeria.

  • Social Media, Hijrah Interest, and Religious Transformation among Muslim Communities in Indonesia

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

    Social media has become one of the settings in which Indonesian Muslims encounter and engage with discussions of hijrah. Yet frequent contact with religious material online need not be accompanied by corresponding changes in religious practice. This study investigates this issue among Muslim communities in Bengkulu City by focusing on hijrah interest as a possible link between social media use and hijrah behavior. The proposed relationship was examined from the Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) perspective. A survey was conducted with 259 participants recruited purposively from communities associated with nine grand mosques. The data were processed with PLS-SEM using SmartPLS 3. The measurement assessment produced acceptable reliability and convergent validity for the three constructs. The strongest relationship involving social media use was found for hijrah interest (? = 0.640, t = 16.689, p < 0.001). Hijrah interest, in turn, showed a positive relationship with hijrah behavior (? = 0.484, t = 7.125, p < 0.001). By contrast, the coefficient linking social media use directly to hijrah behavior was negative and statistically nonsignificant (? = -0.131, t = 1.841, p = 0.066). When hijrah interest was positioned between these variables, the indirect coefficient was positive and significant (? = 0.310, t = 6.355, p < 0.001). These results suggest that social media engagement in this sample is related more strongly to the emergence of hijrah interest than directly to reported hijrah behavior. The findings are limited to the observed sample and period of data collection; consequently, they should not be interpreted as demonstrating a causal process.

  • Philanthropic Efforts in Poverty Alleviation: A Study of Nurul Huda Islamiyah Orphan Support Initiative

    » WAQF Business Review

    Aim: This study examines the role of philanthropic interventions in poverty alleviation among vulnerable children, with particular focus on the Nurul Huda Islamiyah Orphan Support Initiative in Abuja, Nigeria. It specifically assesses how the initiative contributes to improving the welfare and socioeconomic conditions of orphans and underprivileged children through educational support, healthcare provision, and assistance with basic needs. Methodology: The study adopts a qualitative approach drawing on both primary and secondary sources of data. Primary data were obtained from relevant stakeholders and beneficiaries of the Nurul Huda Islamiyah Orphan Support Initiative, while secondary data were drawn from relevant books, journal articles, reports, and other scholarly materials on philanthropy, poverty alleviation, orphan welfare, and faith-based social intervention. The data were descriptively and analytically examined to assess the initiative’s contributions and the challenges affecting its effectiveness and sustainability. Results: The findings indicate that the initiative has contributed to poverty alleviation among its beneficiaries by improving access to education, healthcare, and essential basic needs while supporting greater self-reliance and improved welfare. However, the effectiveness and sustainability of the intervention are constrained by limited financial resources, increasing demand for assistance, and concerns regarding the continuity of funding and programme implementation. Conclusion/Novelty: The study concludes that faith-based philanthropic initiatives constitute an important complementary mechanism for addressing poverty and improving the welfare of vulnerable children in Nigeria. Its novelty lies in providing a focused examination of the Nurul Huda Islamiyah Orphan Support Initiative as a localized faith-based model of poverty intervention, demonstrating how philanthropic support can move beyond immediate relief toward educational, health, and self-reliance outcomes. The study therefore highlights the need for stronger institutional partnerships, transparent accountability mechanisms, and sustainable financing strategies to enhance the long-term effectiveness and developmental impact of orphan-support initiatives.

  • An Assessment of the Contributions of Muslim Women Organizations in Promoting Spiritual Growth and Health Care Delivery in Gombe State

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

    Aim: This study assesses the contributions of Muslim women’s organizations to promoting spiritual growth and healthcare delivery in Gombe State, Nigeria. Specifically, it examines the roles, strategies, and outcomes of the Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN), the Islamic Medical Association of Nigeria (IMAN) Sisters Wing, and the Naseehah Foundation in addressing the interconnected spiritual, health, and social needs of women and their communities. Methodology: The study adopts a qualitative research design incorporating historical, descriptive, and empirical approaches. Data were collected through oral interviews, participant observation, and documentary sources. The data were analyzed thematically to examine the organizations’ activities, strategies, contributions, and challenges in promoting Islamic spiritual development and improving access to healthcare services across Gombe State. Results: The findings reveal that the three organizations make significant and complementary contributions to spiritual development, healthcare delivery, and community welfare. FOMWAN contributes through Islamic education, health-awareness programmes, healthcare facilities, and community initiatives. The IMAN Sisters Wing provides medical services and promotes healthcare practices informed by Islamic medical ethics. The Naseehah Foundation focuses particularly on spiritual guidance, counselling, moral admonition, and interventions aimed at addressing behaviours perceived as socially and morally harmful. Collectively, these activities demonstrate the capacity of Muslim women’s organizations to combine religious education, health promotion, medical outreach, counselling, and community development. However, their effectiveness is constrained by inadequate funding, insufficient staffing, and limited facilities. Conclusion/Novelty: The study concludes that Muslim women’s organizations constitute important community-based actors in advancing both spiritual well-being and healthcare delivery in Gombe State. Their integrated approach demonstrates that religious and health interventions can operate complementarily in addressing community needs. The novelty of the study lies in providing a focused comparative assessment of three Muslim women-led organizations and highlighting their interconnected contributions to spiritual development and healthcare provision within the state. The study recommends institutional formalization, capacity building, sustainable income-generating strategies, and stronger collaboration with government agencies and relevant stakeholders to enhance the scale, sustainability, and effectiveness of their interventions.

  • Marca España as a Nation Branding Instrument of Spain To Deal With Economic Crisis

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

    Economic crisis in Spain in 2008 has degraded of the country in a considerable manner, particularly in terms of its market competitiveness at global level. In order to recover the image, in 2012 Spain formulated an initiative, namely Marca España or Spain Brand. This study seeks to analyze the extent to which Marca España has contributed to nation-branding of Spain during 2012 to 2018. The roles of stakeholders, as well as the collaboration among the parties are focus of the discussion. Aside from the analysis, this research provides a comprehensive understanding on the emergence of Marca España as a strategic response of Spain towards domestic economic crisis, as well as towards challenges in terms of image of the country at the global stage. The study also identifies strategic measures and coordination under Marca España. This includes discussion of the actions meant to boost Spain’s international reputation, underlining the significance of multi-stakeholder collaboration in producing cohesive and sustainable achievements. This study explores Spain’s nation-branding strategy through the Marca España initiative by using a qualitative method based on literature review. In this context, this study identifies the roles and contributions of stakeholders organized within the Fully Inclusive Stakeholder or FIST framework developed by Keith Dinnie. Furthermore, it examines the forms of cross-sector collaboration that serve as key elements in achieving the goal of building a positive international image for Spain.

  • The 5E Waqf Sustainability Framework from the Waqf Business Model (WBM)

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

    Aim: This study aims to conceptualize the sustainability dimensions embedded in the Waqf Business Model (WBM) and develop the 5E Sustainability Framework as an integrated conceptualization of how waqf-based economic activities can achieve long-term sustainability. Building on the WBM perspective, the study examines sustainability not merely as an organizational outcome but as an underlying institutional and business-model architecture. Method: The study adopts a conceptual research approach based on literature-based conceptual synthesis and analytical abstraction. Relevant literature on waqf, Waqf Business Model, sustainable business models, social business, governance, and value creation is examined to identify recurring sustainability mechanisms within WBM. These mechanisms are categorized, abstracted, and integrated into a coherent conceptual framework. Results: The analysis identifies five interconnected sustainability dimensions: Endowed Capital Base, Economic Institutional Mechanism, Ethical Governance Structure, Economic Ecosystem Integration, and Enrichment and Value Creation. The framework conceptualizes a sustainability logic in which endowed capital provides the foundational resource base, economic mechanisms activate productive value, ethical governance safeguards institutional integrity, ecosystem integration connects waqf with broader economic and social resources, and enrichment and value creation generate continuous economic, social, and environmental benefits. Conclusion/Novelty/Implication: The study proposes the 5E Sustainability Framework as a conceptual extension of WBM. Its novelty lies in positioning endowed capital preservation, ethical governance, and ecosystem integration as integral dimensions of sustainability alongside economic and societal value creation. The framework provides a foundation for further comparative analysis, measurement development, and empirical validation of sustainable waqf and social business models.

  • Institutionalizing Waqf for an Integrated Affordable Housing Ecosystem in Urban Areas

    » WAQF Business Review

    Aim: This study aims to develop an integrated affordable housing ecosystem by institutionalizing waqf as a long-term social investment mechanism rather than treating it solely as a charitable or housing-finance instrument. It specifically seeks to identify the institutional conditions required to connect productive waqf with governance, Islamic social finance, digital transformation, sustainable urban development, and multi-stakeholder collaboration. Method: The study adopts a qualitative conceptual research design supported by a systematic literature review and thematic content analysis. Relevant literature on waqf, Islamic social finance, affordable housing, institutional governance, digital technologies, sustainable urban development, and collaborative governance was critically synthesized to identify recurring challenges, relationships, and opportunities for institutional integration. The synthesis was further informed by Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah, Institutional Theory, Sustainable Urban Development Theory, and Collaborative Governance and Innovation Ecosystem perspectives. Results: The findings identify seven interconnected dimensions shaping the development of waqf-based affordable housing: productive waqf potential, institutional fragmentation, complementary financing, digital governance, sustainable urban development, multi-stakeholder collaboration, and institutional integration. Based on these findings, the study develops the Institutional Waqf Housing Ecosystem (IWHE), comprising six domains: productive waqf foundation, institutional governance, Islamic social-finance integration, digital governance infrastructure, sustainable housing and urban development, and collaborative and community-based governance. The framework positions waqf as a foundational institutional resource within a broader housing ecosystem. Conclusion: The study concludes that the effectiveness of waqf for affordable housing depends not only on the availability of endowed assets but on the institutional architecture through which those assets are governed, financed, digitized, developed, and connected with community needs. The IWHE provides a theoretically grounded framework for integrating these functions and offers a basis for policy development, pilot implementation, and future empirical validation.