2023, Fuadah Johari, Fauzias Mat Noor, Wan Ahmad Amir Zal, Ahmad Fahme Mohd Ali, Hanim Misbah, Hasnah Haron, Syahidawati Shahwan, Zurina Shafii, Amir Shaharuddin, Azuan Ahmad, Muhammad Mohamad Yusoff, Wiaam Hassan, Nur Atikah Atan, Baharom Abdul Hamid, Ziyaad Mahomed, Kinan Salim, Amir bin Shaharuddin

This research endeavour aims to foster collaboration among beneficiaries, donors, and waqf managers (mutawalli) by deeply understanding the prevailing legislative framework. Employing a concept-driven qualitative methodology, we conducted content analysis through a deductive approach. The investigation employed three key attributes, namely "use more, donate more, and share more," to systematically explore the ramifications of established concepts in a broader context. Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were conducted, and subsequently, the transcribed text from these FGDs underwent meticulous analysis. The study culminates in the proposition that beneficiaries, donors, and mutawalli can synchronize their efforts through the waqf project by: 1) opting for increased utilization when the waqf project offers goods and services either free of charge or at a more affordable rate compared to the prevailing market prices; 2) contributing higher donations through various means such as cash, deductions from salaries, electronic payments, or in-kind contributions; and 3) enhancing information dissemination by utilizing platforms such as social media (WhatsApp, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, etc.), mass media (television and radio), roadshows, interpersonal communication, and various online channels to propagate the cause. The initiative for synergy examines the applicability of the "benefidonors" term within the present context. The findings demonstrate that the concept of Benefidonors can indeed facilitate the collaborative sharing of information, thereby amplifying waqf contributions from beneficiaries, donors, and mutawalli. As a culmination of the study, a refined Benefidonors model is delineated, providing a comprehensive framework for effective collaboration.

2025, Amelia Nur Natasha Nazeri, Amir bin Shaharuddin

Islamic social finance (ISF) offers a comprehensive ecosystem for addressing poverty, inequality, and financial exclusion, encompassing key instruments such as zakat, waqf, sadaqah, and Islamic microfinance. While zakat remains central to ISF, its full potential is often undermined by fragmented implementation and lack of synergy with complementary tools. This conceptual paper proposes a unified ISF framework that positions these instruments as a strategic pillar within an integrated model of Islamic philanthropy and financial inclusion. The objective is to develop a conceptual structure that enhances the collective impact of ISF instruments through improved governance, institutional collaboration, digital integration, and alignment with Maqasid al-Shariah and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Using a qualitative conceptual methodology, the study synthesizes existing literature, policy discussions, and institutional practices to construct a framework that facilitates effective resource mobilization and targeted social impact. This paper contributes by highlighting the importance of integrated ISF strategies to strengthen the role of zakat in national and global development agendas.

2025, Syahnaz Sulaiman, Nur Salsabila Adam Malik, Jasmin Arif Shah, Nurul Aini Muhamed, Khairil Faizal Khairi, Hussein 'Azeemi Abdulah Thaidi, Amir bin Shaharuddin

Agricultural takaful has been introduced as a Shari'ah-compliant risk-sharing mechanism to support smallholder farmers in managing production and climate-related risks. This study explores the potential of integrating Islamic social finance (ISF) instruments into an agricultural takaful model to enhance agricultural resilience and agrifood system security among paddy farmers in Malaysia. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining a structured survey of 385 paddy farmers from three major granary states in Malaysia, notably Kedah, Kelantan, and Selangor, with in-depth interviews involving takaful operators, agricultural agencies, and Islamic finance institutions (IFIs). The survey captured farmers' demographic profiles, willingness to participate and contribute to agricultural takaful, and their exposure to ISF instruments, while qualitative interviews provided complementary insights into challenges and opportunities for integrating takaful with ISF. The findings indicate that the paddy farmers have the intention to participate and contribute to agricultural takaful that predominantly influenced their attitudes and perceived behavioural control. However, affordability, awareness, and Shari'ah compliance issues remain barriers for their participation. Financial support through zakat and waqf has the potential to enhance acceptance, while pricing remains a critical determinant for uptake. Qualitative evidence further highlights the need for a model that extends beyond risk protection to reflect ethical, inclusive, and sustainability principles. This study contributes novel insights through the proposed takaful ta'awuni agro framework, which integrates takaful with zakat and waqf under a unified model of ta'awun (mutual cooperation). Ta'awun is positioned here as a broader guiding value for ISF, enabling collective responsibility, inclusivity, and community resilience. This study is limited by its cross-sectional design and focus on selected granary regions in Malaysia. Future research should apply long-term and pilot-based approaches to empirically test the operationalisation and performance of integrated takaful-ISF models across different agricultural and country contexts. The proposed takaful ta'awuni agro framework brings the spirit of ta'awuni into practice by aligning agricultural takaful with the Value-Based Intermediation Takaful (VBIT) agenda to provide a Shari'ah-compliant and inclusive risk-sharing solution for vulnerable farmers. The model demonstrates how ta'awun and VBIT can be applied beyond agriculture to strengthen financial resilience and social protection across other vulnerable sectors of the economy.