Nurturing Islamic Youth through Waqf: A Systematic Review of Skill Enhancement and Economic Empowerment Programs
Keywords:
Waqf, Muslim youth, economic empowerment, skill development, Systematic Literature ReviewAbstract
Waqf (Islamic endowment) is a philanthropic instrument in Islam with significant strategic potential to support socio-economic development, particularly in Muslim youth empowerment. This study aims to synthesize empirical literature on the role of waqf in skill enhancement and economic empowerment of youth through a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) guided by the PRISMA framework. Data were collected from eight international academic databases covering the period 2000–2024. Out of 381 identified articles, 25 studies met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) and thematic synthesis. The findings indicate that waqf-based youth programs can be categorized into four main models: (1) education and scholarship programs, (2) vocational training and skill development initiatives, (3) business incubation and entrepreneurship programs, and (4) waqf-based financial inclusion mechanisms. Implementation across Muslim-majority countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Bangladesh, and Nigeria demonstrates positive impacts on skill acquisition, income enhancement, enterprise creation, and youth unemployment reduction. The effectiveness of these programs is strongly influenced by transparent waqf governance, integration of Islamic values, active youth participation, digital technology adoption, and cross-sectoral partnerships. In addition, this study identifies five key dimensions of youth empowerment through waqf, namely skill development, economic empowerment, Islamic identity strengthening, social development, and institutional sustainability. However, implementation gaps remain due to limited capacity of nazir (waqf managers), institutional fragmentation, and a lack of evidence-based evaluation frameworks. In conclusion, waqf is proven to be an effective instrument for Muslim youth empowerment when managed in a modern, integrated, and evidence-based manner. This study recommends strengthening governance structures, developing standardized evaluation frameworks, and integrating digital technologies to enhance the sustainable impact of waqf in youth development.
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