Waqf in Malaysia: a Study of Islamic Law and its Implications for Social Development

This study explores the role of waqf in Malaysia from the perspective of Islamic law and its implications for social and economic development. Based on the analysis of legal literature and case studies, it is found that waqf has great potential in improving the welfare of society through its contribution in the fields of education, health, and social infrastructure. Islamic law, through regulations such as the Waqf Act 1995 and the Islamic Law Administration (Federal Territory) Act 1993, provides a strong basis for waqf management, although there are differences in implementation across states that affect the consistency of implementation. This study also examines innovations in the form of cash waqf and corporate waqf that open up new opportunities to increase waqf funds. However, optimizing the impact of waqf still faces challenges in the form of lack of public awareness, issues of transparency in management, and differences in regulations between states. With more professional management and harmonization of regulations, waqf has the potential to become an important instrument in creating sustainable social and economic development in Malaysia.