header

Articles

Vol. 1 No. 2 (2026): MARET : MUJAHADAH JURNAL ILMU MULTIDISIPLIN

THE ROLE OF WAQF IN EMPOWERING MUSLIM YOUTH:A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF SKILL-BASED INTERVENTIONS FOR ECONOMIC INCLUSION

Submitted
July 4, 2026
Published
2026-03-03

Abstract

This study examines the role of waqf in empowering Muslim youth through skill-based interventions aimed at promoting economic inclusion. It employs a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) guided by the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) framework to synthesize empirical evidence across diverse country contexts. A total of 48 studies meeting the inclusion criteria were analyzed using a thematic approach to identify intervention models, program effectiveness, as well as key success factors and implementation challenges. The findings demonstrate that productive waqf plays a significant role in enhancing youth skills, improving access to labor markets, increasing income levels, and strengthening economic resilience among Muslim youth. Four principal intervention models are identified: education- and vocational-based waqf, entrepreneurship-based waqf, financial literacy and digital inclusion-based waqf, and community development-based waqf. Program effectiveness is strongly influenced by the quality of waqf governance, alignment of training curricula with labor market needs, integration of Islamic values, strategic partnerships, and sustained mentorship. However, several structural challenges persist, including regulatory limitations, institutional capacity constraints, and socio-cultural barriers. Overall, this study underscores the substantial potential of waqf as a key instrument within Islamic Social Finance for advancing human capital development and sustainable economic inclusion. The findings offer important policy implications, particularly in strengthening governance frameworks, fostering innovation in waqf instruments, and developing cross-sector collaborative ecosystems to support the empowerment of Muslim youth.

References

  1. Ahmed, H. (2004). Role of Zakah and Awqaf in Poverty Alleviation. Islamic Research and Training Institute, Islamic Development Bank. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/237307107
  2. Chapra, M. U. (2008). The Islamic Vision of Development in the Light of Maqasid al-Shariah. Islamic Research and Training Institute, Islamic Development Bank. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228147072
  3. Cizakca, M. (2000). A History of Philanthropic Foundations: The Islamic World from the Seventh Century to the Present. Bogazici University Press. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/284682131_A_History_of_Philanthropic_Foundations_The_Islamic_World_From_the_Seventh_Century_to_the_Present
  4. Çizakça, M. (2011). Islamic Capitalism and Finance: Origins, Evolution and the Future. Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781849804684
  5. Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2000). The 'what' and 'why' of goal pursuits: Human needs and the self-determination of behavior. Psychological Inquiry, 11(4), 227-268. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327965PLI1104_01
  6. Farhan, M., Sattar, A., Chaudhry, A. H., & Khalil, F. (2011). A Study About Effects of Job Stress on Employees' Job Performance Among Academic Staff. International Journal of Business and Social Science, 2(17), 169-181. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/267990768
  7. Haneef, M. A., Pramanik, A. H., Mohammed, M. O., Amin, M. F. B., & Muhammad, A. D. (2015). Integration of waqf-Islamic microfinance model for poverty reduction: The case of Bangladesh. International Journal of Islamic and Middle Eastern Finance and Management, 8(2), 246-270. https://doi.org/10.1108/IMEFM-03-2014-0029
  8. Hasan, Z. A. (2006). Waqf experience in Malaysia. Paper presented at the International Seminar on Awqaf and Economic Development, Kuala Lumpur. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/267406516
  9. Hassan, M. K., & Ashraf, M. A. (2010). An integrated poverty alleviation model combining zakat, awqaf and micro-finance. In Proceedings of the Seventh International Conference-The Tawhidi Epistemology: Zakat and Waqf Economy, Bangi (pp. 261-281). https://www.researchgate.net/publication/267391402
  10. Iqbal, Z., & Mirakhor, A. (2011). An Introduction to Islamic Finance: Theory and Practice (2nd ed.). Wiley Finance. https://www.wiley.com/en-us/An+Introduction+to+Islamic+Finance%3A+Theory+and+Practice%2C+2nd+Edition-p-9780470828083
  11. Ismail Abdel Mohsin, M. (2013). Financing through cash‐waqf: A revitalization to finance different needs. International Journal of Islamic and Middle Eastern Finance and Management, 6(4), 304-321. https://doi.org/10.1108/IMEFM-08-2013-0095
  12. Kahf, M. (1998). Financing the development of Awqaf property. American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences, 16(4), 39-66. https://doi.org/10.35632/ajiss.v16i4.2011
  13. Laldin, M. A., & Furqani, H. (2013). Developing Islamic finance in the framework of maqasid al-Shari'ah. International Journal of Islamic and Middle Eastern Finance and Management, 6(4), 278-289. https://doi.org/10.1108/IMEFM-05-2013-0057
  14. Masyita, D., & Ahmed, H. (2013). Why is growth of Islamic microfinance lower than its conventional counterparts in Indonesia? Islamic Economic Studies, 21(1), 35-62. https://doi.org/10.12816/0001553
  15. Moher, D., Liberati, A., Tetzlaff, J., Altman, D. G., & PRISMA Group. (2009). Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: The PRISMA statement. PLOS Medicine, 6(7), e1000097. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000097
  16. Mohieldin, M., Iqbal, Z., Rostom, A., & Fu, X. (2011). The Role of Islamic Finance in Enhancing Financial Inclusion in Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Countries. World Bank Policy Research Working Paper No. 5920. https://doi.org/10.1596/1813-9450-5920
  17. Nasution, M. E. (2006). Wakaf Tunai dan Sektor Volunteer. Jurnal Ekonomi Islam EKBISI, 1(1), 1-20. https://ejournal.uin-suka.ac.id/syariah/ekbisi
  18. Obaidullah, M. (2008). Role of Microfinance in Poverty Alleviation: Lessons from Experiences in Selected IDB Member Countries. Islamic Research and Training Institute, Islamic Development Bank. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/237306095
  19. Putnam, R. D. (2000). Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community. Simon and Schuster. https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Bowling-Alone/Robert-D-Putnam/9780743203043
  20. Saiti, B., Ibrahim, M. A., & Dhaoui, E. (2021). Islamic social finance: Waqf, zakat and Islamic microfinance. In Islamic Finance and Economic Development (pp. 87-104). Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-59267-9_5
  21. Salleh, M. S. (2016). Waqf-Based Social Welfare Model: A Systematic Approach for Economic Development. Journal of Islamic Economics, Banking and Finance, 12(3), 50-71. https://doi.org/10.12816/0033895
  22. Shaikh, S. A., Ismail, M. A., & Mohd Shafiai, M. H. (2017). Application of waqf for social and development finance. ISRA International Journal of Islamic Finance, 9(1), 5-14. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJIF-07-2017-005
  23. Shirazi, N. S., & Amin, M. F. B. (2009). Poverty elimination through potential zakat collection in OIC-member countries: Revisited. Pakistan Development Review, 48(4), 739-754. https://www.jstor.org/stable/41260876
  24. Toraman, C., Tuncsiper, B., & Yilmaz, S. (2007). Cash awqaf in the Ottomans as philanthropic foundation and their accounting practices. In 5th Accounting History International Conference (pp. 9-11). https://www.researchgate.net/publication/268268126
  25. Wibisono, Y. (2009). Wakaf Indonesia: Solusi Pengembangan Ekonomi Umat. Badan Wakaf Indonesia. https://bwi.go.id/artikel/wakaf-indonesia-solusi-pengembangan-ekonomi-umat

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Most read articles by the same author(s)

Similar Articles

11-20 of 23

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.