Bridging Faith and Development: Unlocking Zakat, Wakāf, and Sadaqah for the SDG Era

This article examines how Islamic social finance (zakat, Wakāf, and Sadaqah) can advance the Sustainable Development Goals. We synthesize literature and practice to explain why large faith-based resources remain outside national financing plans: fragmented governance, weak data systems, and limited impact measurement. We outline a pathway that links Maqasid al-Shariah with SDG targets through unified reporting standards, digital traceability, and outcome metrics. The framework integrates policy reform, fintech tools, and partnerships among governments, multilateral agencies, and faith-based institutions. When implemented with transparency and accountability, Islamic social finance can convert dispersed generosity into coordinated, measurable impact for inclusive and sustainable development.