Zakat fund utilization among recipients in Selangor from a Shariah perspective

Megat Laksana, Nan Noorhidayu and MOHD SHAFIAN, ILHAM NOR MAHIRAH (2026) Zakat fund utilization among recipients in Selangor from a Shariah perspective. Global Journal of Educational Research & Management, 6 (4). pp. 12-27. E-ISSN 2805-4695

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Abstract

This paper examines how zakat recipients in Selangor utilize financial assistance and interprets their reported experiences from a Shariah perspective. Although zakat distribution is intended to support eligible beneficiaries, the receipt of assistance alone does not establish whether it meets immediate needs or supports longer-term economic improvement. The study combines documentary analysis with qualitative evidence from 20 recipients presented in the underlying research report. Semi-structured interviews explored assistance received, expenditure priorities, perceived improvements, dependency, and financial guidance. The reported findings identify expenditure on household necessities, housing, education, debt settlement, and small-business capital. Participants described reduced financial pressure and improved capacity to meet essential expenses, while one reported increased business profits. Family responsibilities and insufficient income constrained opportunities to allocate assistance to income-generating activities. A student account also revealed tension between an educational purpose and a planned discretionary purchase. These findings indicate that immediate consumption can serve legitimate welfare objectives and should not automatically be classified as ineffective utilization. However, perceived improvement does not demonstrate sustained poverty exit or a causal effect of zakat assistance. The paper proposes differentiated support that protects essential consumption, clarifies assistance conditions, strengthens practical financial guidance, and offers voluntary livelihood development where appropriate. It contributes a recipient-centred interpretation of zakat effectiveness while acknowledging inconsistencies in the original sampling description and the limited generalizability of the evidence.

Item Type:	Article (Journal)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	zakat, utilization, Selangor, Shariah, welfare
Subjects:	BPK Islamic law. Shari'ah. Fiqh BPK Islamic law. Shari'ah. Fiqh > BPK36 Islamic law (General) > BPK78 Usul al-fiqh
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences > Department of Fiqh and Usul al-Fiqh
Depositing User:	Dr Nan Noorhidayu Megat laksana
Date Deposited:	19 Oct 2026 09:19
Last Update:	19 Oct 2026 09:19
Queue Number:	2026-10-Q5654
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/132007
Indexed In:	UNSPECIFIED

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