AIJIS: Al Ghazali International Journal of Islamic Studies

Fintech and Islamic Social Finance: Digitalizing Waqf and Zakat For Poverty Alleviation in Southeast Asia

Alvan Hazhari, Maya Sih Hika Pamungkas, Aden Wijaya — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0700

Islamic social finance, particularly zakat and waqf instruments, has significant potential as a catalyst for poverty alleviation in Southeast Asia. However, traditional management is often faced with issues of transparency, distribution inefficiency, and limited reach. This study aims to analyze how the integration of financial technology (fintech) in the Islamic social finance system can optimize the management of zakat and waqf to alleviate poverty in Southeast Asia. Using the Systematic Literature Review (SLR) method analyzing various academic publications from 2021 to 2026, the findings of this study indicate that the adoption of fintech innovations such as crowdfunding platforms, blockchain, and artificial intelligence (AI) has been empirically proven to improve fund collection efficiency, accelerate distribution times, and increase public trust (muzakki and waqif). Although these breakthroughs offer significant impacts on poverty alleviation and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), there are still various challenges such as low digital literacy among vulnerable communities, the lack of integrated cross-border regulatory frameworks, and sharia compliance issues in advanced innovations. This article recommends the need for an adaptive and inclusive regulatory model to ensure a sustainable digital Islamic social finance ecosystem in the region.

Da'wah in the Algorithm Era: Populism, Social Media, and the Transformation of Religious Discourse

Wahyu Khoeriyah, Ismah, Fajriatul Mustakharoh — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0700

The development of digital technology has transformed the landscape of religious communication, shifting the space of da'wah (Islamic preaching) from traditional pulpits to social media platforms. This article examines how the algorithmic logic underlying digital platforms functions not only as a distribution tool but also actively alters the form, content, and authority within religious discourse. Using a qualitative method through a virtual ethnographic approach and literature review, this study finds that algorithms prioritize engagement (emotional involvement), which triggers the birth of religious populism—a rhetoric that simplifies religious teachings into black-and-white and sensational narratives. This phenomenon leads to the fragmentation of religious authority, where metric popularity (such as the number of followers and likes) replaces scholarly depth as the standard of a preacher's legitimacy. In conclusion, the algorithmic era demands critical digital literacy so that the ummah (Muslim community) is not trapped in echo chambers that shallow religious discourse and trigger social polarization.

The Epistemology of Kashf in Al-Ghazali's Philosophy and Its Relevance to Modern Cognitive Science

Nasrul Umam, Imam Taqiyyuddin Assubky, Arya Ivan Fuadi — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0700

This study examines the epistemology of kashf in al-Ghazali's philosophy and its relevance to modern cognitive science. The increasing scholarly interest in intuition, consciousness, and non-analytical cognitive processes has created new opportunities for interdisciplinary dialogue between Islamic philosophy and contemporary cognitive science. However, studies integrating al-Ghazali's concept of kashf with modern cognitive theories remain limited. This study aims to analyze the epistemological foundations of kashf, examine contemporary theories of intuition and consciousness, and explore their conceptual relevance. Employing a library research method with a comparative philosophical analysis, this study adopts the approaches of Islamic philosophy, Sufism, and cognitive science. Data were collected through documentation of primary sources, including Al-Munqidh min al-Dalal, Ihya' 'Ulum al-Din, and Mishkat al-Anwar, as well as contemporary scholarly literature. The findings reveal that al-Ghazali's epistemology recognizes kashf as a form of supra-rational knowledge attained through spiritual purification and Divine illumination, complementing sensory perception and rational reasoning. Meanwhile, modern cognitive science explains intuition, consciousness, and metacognition as cognitive mechanisms underlying non-analytical knowledge acquisition. Although both perspectives differ in their ontological and methodological foundations, they converge in acknowledging the significance of intuitive knowledge. This study proposes an Integrative Epistemological Dialogue Model, demonstrating that al-Ghazali's epistemology and modern cognitive science provide complementary perspectives for understanding holistic human knowledge. The study contributes to strengthening interdisciplinary dialogue between Islamic philosophy and contemporary cognitive science.

Reforming Islamic Family Law a Maqasid-Based Approach to Addressing Child Marriage in Muslim-Majority Nations

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0700

Child marriage remains one of the most pressing social and legal challenges in many Muslim-majority nations despite ongoing legal reforms and international commitments to protect children's rights. Traditional interpretations of Islamic family law have often been employed to justify early marriage, although contemporary scholars increasingly argue that such practices contradict the higher objectives (maqāṣid al-sharīʿah) of Islamic law. This article examines how a maqāṣid-based approach can contribute to the reform of Islamic family law in addressing child marriage while remaining faithful to Islamic legal principles. Using a qualitative library research methodology, the study analyzes classical and contemporary literature on Islamic jurisprudence, legal reforms, and the objectives of Islamic law, with particular attention to the protection of life (ḥifẓ al-nafs), intellect (ḥifẓ al-ʿaql), lineage (ḥifẓ al-nasl), and human dignity. The findings demonstrate that a maqāṣid-oriented interpretation provides a strong normative foundation for establishing higher minimum marriage ages, strengthening legal safeguards, and promoting the welfare of children in accordance with both Islamic ethics and international human rights standards. Furthermore, legal reforms grounded in maqāṣid al-sharīʿah encourage a contextual understanding of Islamic law that responds effectively to contemporary social realities without undermining its religious legitimacy. The study concludes that integrating maqāṣid principles into Islamic family law reform offers a balanced framework capable of reducing child marriage while advancing justice, public welfare (maṣlaḥah), and sustainable family development across Muslim-majority societies.

Negotiating Religious Pluralism: The Role of Wasatiyyah in Fostering Interfaith Harmony in Democratic Muslim Societies

Nasrulloh, Miftahudin, Abdul Karim , Muhammad Faizul Husnayain, Ahmad Afendi — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0700

Religious pluralism remains one of the most pressing challenges in contemporary democratic Muslim societies, where diverse religious communities coexist within increasingly complex social and political landscapes. This article explores the role of wasatiyyah (Islamic moderation) as a normative and practical framework for fostering interfaith harmony, social cohesion, and democratic citizenship. Drawing upon Islamic theological principles, contemporary scholarly discourse, and selected case studies from Muslim-majority democracies, the study examines how wasatiyyah promotes balance, justice, tolerance, inclusivity, and mutual respect among religious groups. Using a qualitative library research approach, the article analyzes the compatibility of wasatiyyah with democratic values, particularly in addressing religious polarization, identity politics, and sectarian tensions. The findings suggest that wasatiyyah serves as an effective mediating paradigm that reconciles religious commitment with pluralistic coexistence, encouraging constructive dialogue and peaceful engagement across faith boundaries. Furthermore, the study argues that the institutionalization of wasatiyyah-based policies in education, governance, and civil society can strengthen democratic resilience and prevent religious extremism. By positioning moderation as both a religious virtue and a civic ethic, wasatiyyah contributes significantly to the development of inclusive and harmonious democratic societies. This research enriches the growing scholarship on Islam, democracy, and interfaith relations by offering a contextualized framework for negotiating religious diversity in the modern Muslim world.

Thematic Exegesis (Tafsir Mawdu'i) and Gender Equality: Re-Reading Quranic Verses on Domestic Relations in the 21st Century

Dian Permana, Rari Diana, Zohaib Hassan Sain, Suprapno, Muntaha Mahfud — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0700

This article explores the relevance of thematic exegesis (tafsir mawḍū‘ī) in reconstructing the understanding of Qur’anic verses concerning domestic relations and gender equality in the twenty-first century. Traditional interpretations of certain Qur’anic texts related to marital leadership, division of roles, and family authority have often been influenced by patriarchal socio-cultural contexts, resulting in gender-biased perspectives. Using a qualitative library research approach, this study applies the thematic exegesis method to analyze and synthesize relevant Qur’anic verses on husband-wife relations, mutual rights and obligations, justice, partnership, and family harmony. The findings reveal that the Qur’an promotes principles of equality, mutual respect, cooperation, and shared responsibility between men and women within the family. Rather than establishing hierarchical domination, the Qur’anic framework emphasizes complementary roles grounded in justice (‘adl), compassion (raḥmah), and mutual consultation (shūrā). Furthermore, a contextual rereading of these verses demonstrates that gender equality is not contradictory to Islamic teachings but is deeply rooted in the ethical objectives (maqāṣid) of the Qur’an. This study contributes to contemporary Qur’anic scholarship by offering a contextual and holistic interpretation that responds to modern social realities while maintaining fidelity to the Qur’an’s normative values. The thematic exegesis approach thus serves as an effective methodological tool for promoting a more equitable understanding of domestic relations in contemporary Muslim societies.