Poor people generally have difficulty in accessing good healthcare services. This can consequently lead them to have a lower quality of life. This paper investigates whether zakat medical assistance helps improve the health of the asnaf (zakat recipients) and in turn upgrade their quality of life. The crosstab analysis of 60 respondents in Penang, Kelantan and Negeri Sembilan in 2014 shows that 93.4 percent of the asnaf reported that zakat medical assistance has increased their quality of life. Meanwhile, multiple regression analysis shows that among the predictors of health, income and education, health status is the significant predictor of quality of life of the zakat recipients. These findings would be useful for policy makers, especially the State Islamic Religious Councils, in order to focus on improving the level of quality of life of the asnaf and continue to increase the allocation of medical financial assistance from zakat to the eligible asnaf. At the micro level, the medical assistance rendered would help improve both health status and quality of life. As a result, zakat has great potential to be one of the economic tools to alleviate poverty among Muslims in Malaysia.

Muslim consumers' awareness toward halal foods and products has been increasing. The halal concept becomes consumers' vital concern as it covers wide areas of consumption, though one might perceive it as only a food-related issue. Given this background, this article aims to investigate the factors that influence consumers' intention to purchase halal-certified foods and products. By using Ajzen's theory of planned behavior (TPB) as a theoretical framework, this research employed a quantitative survey with a sample of 332 Muslim consumers living in Singapore to examine Singaporean Muslim preferences in purchasing halal foods and products. Data gathered from the survey were then explored and analyzed. Multiple regression analysis results indicate that all TPB variables have a positive and significant influence on the intention to purchase halal-certified products among the Muslim minority in Singapore.

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to identify the hardcore poor, moderately poor and just poor among zakat recipients in southwest Nigeria. It seeks to explain the criteria and basis used in determining the most deprived among zakat recipients considering the multi-dimensional nature of poverty and modern-day situations. Design/methodology/approach - Out of 200 questionnaires that were randomly distributed among the recipients of zakat from Al-Hayat Relief Foundation and Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation in southwest Nigeria, only 150 were completed. Headcount poverty index, poverty gap index, multi-dimensional index on standard of living, income ranges and monthly per-capita household expenditures using the national workers' minimum wage as poverty threshold were adopted for analyzing the data collected. Findings - On the basis of the income range of the recipients, 128 out of 150 recipients were found to be poor, whereas on using the MMPCHE 93 out of 150 recipients were found to be poor. Both results were further classified into hardcore poor, moderately poor and just poor recipients. The multi-dimensional index on standard of living was also used to capture poverty in terms of deprivation in standard of living, such as non-availability of electricity, drinking water, cooking fuel, sanitation, flooring and assets. Research limitations/implications - A limited number of recipients were evaluated in this study, and hence it would be difficult to generalize. Also, some recipients had difficulty in answering the survey questionnaire used in this study, which reduced the amount of information derived. Thus, an in-depth interview method coupled with a survey can be used in future studies. Practical implications - The implication of this result is either that the threshold and measures adopted are not capturing the poor and the needy or that the zakat institutions are not reaching out enough to the poor and the needy eligible to receive zakat. This paper suggests the introduction of a more uniform and comprehensive zakat-based poverty threshold for the poor and the needy that will continuously be examined by Shariah scholars and researchers to best engage with the modern-day situation. Social implications - This paper examines the measures of poverty and concludes on the introduction of a well-comprehensive threshold that is Shariah compliant and based on the plight of the modern-day poor and needy, which can go a long way in achieving the objectives of zakat. Originality/value - This study recommends a more comprehensive zakat-based poverty threshold that will capture the multi-dimensional nature of poverty in the present day for better outreach to the most deprived needy and poor.

Waqf is a very important economic instrument in Islam. History has shown that waqf has assisted Muslims tremendously since the era of the Prophet Muhammad until the next splendid era of Islam. Various rewards await those who have implemented waqf for the sole purpose of encouraging this practice among Muslims. This noble practice then spreads, not only within the traditional boundaries such as the construction of mosques, religious schools and cemeteries, but continues to develop in various forms including in "health waqf'. Increasing healthcare costs do not take into consideration the factor of affordability, that is whether patients can afford to bear the cost or otherwise. For the asnaf, the current cost of treatment by specialists is beyond their means and so an alternative route for them would be through health waqf Similarly, the problem applies to the non-asnaf for whom the cost would be considered lower. With the establishment of Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) Health Specialist Clinic (HSC), the waqf agenda prospers in different forms be it in health, expertise or education thus realizing its objective of assisting the poor and needy, and indirectly implementing the agenda of global peace.

Kwara State is one of the Muslim-dominated states in Nigeria, where Islamic economic instrument of zakah is expected to play vital role in alleviating the problem of poverty in the society. One of the objectives of zakah is to economically circulate the wealth and resources from the rich to the poor and eventually realize fair distribution of those wealth and resources in a Muslim society. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of zakah in the poverty reduction of the poor Muslims in Kwara State, Nigeria, particularly, the poor Muslim women. The study employs mixed method of data collection whereby the primary data are explored using the questionnaire and interview designed for the potential respondents during the on-going academic research programme 2013/2014 academic session of 360 sample size. Similarly, verses from Holy Qu'ran and Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) are used in the study. For the secondary data, existing literature and studies on zakah are also used. Data gathered are analysed using frequencies, percentages and inferential statistics via SPSS 20.0. The findings show that zakah and its institution are not significantly related to and effective in reducing poverty among the poor Muslims in Kwara State, Nigeria. However, recommendations are made towards introduction of standard institution of zakah in the State in order to assist in poverty reduction among the poor Muslims.

Characterized as divinely ordained, the Islamic law of inheritance defines women's tights to property of the deceased with specific roles and responsibilities for each individual. Obviously, the Islamic law of inheritance is a major contribution to the legal system of the world, compared to the customary laws in the pre-Islamic Arab society that denied any proprietary right by way of inheritance to female relatives including daughters. However, the jurisprudential inquiry into the legal nature of inheritance rights of women entails a dose analysis of various factors, including the contemporary socio-economic conditions of Muslim women. This paper revisits the historical and social aspects of the Islamic legal provisions with regard to inheritance rights in an effort to determine if the legal provision has merits to be implemented in light of the changing socio-economic conditions of women in Muslim majority states. It argues that a much dearer position that reflects the changing role of women needs to be postulated, though the challenge is to determine whether the Islamic epistemological position allows any room for restructuring the Islamic legal provision from the perspective of the current situation of Muslim nations such as Malaysia. An examination of the position of Muslim women's rights to property on the basis of the ontological, epistemological, and methodological aspects of legal rulings in Islam prompts us to call for a novel method of thinking, understanding, and implementing the Islamic inheritance provisions against the backdrop of the present globalized but stereotyped Muslim world. To that end, it concludes with the suggestion of enacting what can be called in modem terms "by-laws" within the Islamic framework in juxtaposition with the existing law of Islamic society in general, and that of Malaysia in particular.

Purpose - Despite the establishment of the Zakat, its role has been argued by the new Muslim (Muallaf) community. This research attempts to examine the role played by the Zakat institution in Selangor in distributing funds and supporting Muallaf. Methodology/approach - A qualitative approach through a series of interview sessions with management of the Zakat institution was carried out. Findings - The results show that the department has supported Muallaf, particularly in terms of education, finance and monitoring the Muallaf through various programmes starting from the first day they convert to Islam. Research limitations/implications - This chapter has its limitations in terms of the data collection from the Islamic religious centre. Future research should collect information from all rightful recipients, particularly the Muallaf community in order to measure the efficiency of the institution of Zakat. Future studies are important to understand how efficient the Islamic institution plays its role in managing and ensuring social economic justice among the other Muslim community. Practical implications - This chapter indicates that the management of the Zakat institution should provide more systematic guidelines in managing Zakat fund for the efficient promotion, collection and distribution. Managing the institution of Zakat efficiently and effectively will help to enhance the image of religion, particularly Islam. Social implications - This chapter confirms that the Islamic Religious Department of Selangor has managed to successfully administer the Zakat fund. On top of that, the department has organized several programmes for Muallaf in order to support them to be a new Muslim in a majority Muslim country. Original/value - This chapter also clarifies the issues raised by the Muallaf community concerning the unfair treatment in distributing the Zakat fund and supporting them. This chapter contributes towards an understanding of the Zakat institution with regards to its concepts, role, issues and challenges.

Zakat is one of the pillars of Islam that emphasises the socio-economic development. Any discussion on zakat in the context of worship cannot be disconnected from the socio-economic factor, especially in aiding the underprivileged. The primary purpose of zakat is to redistribute wealth of the society among the poor. Zakat is not purely welfare-oriented that relies on the contribution of the giver but an obligation that must be carried out to qualified recipients. Therefore, it is pertinent that the management of zakat is made efficient to ensure that the rights of the recipients and the society, in general, will not be put in jeopardy. The question is then raised regarding the type of zakat distribution or programmes pertaining to the asnaf Muallaf. The objective of this article is to explore zakat distribution programmes for sustaining muallaf belief (Tauhid) and thoughts (Iman). The methodology of this article is based on qualitative research through document analysis and interview with zakat officer. This article has revealed that a huge amount had been allocated for the development of asnaf Muallaf. It is conclude that, State Islamic Religious Council needs to continuously improve a comprehensive programmes that focus on sustaining the Muallaf belief (Tauhid) and thoughts (Iman).