A Multilayered Productive Zakat Framework for Entrepreneurial Empowerment

Öz

Zakat, a core pillar of Islam, is a religious duty requiring the redistribution of wealth to eight eligible categories (asnaf) specified in the Qur'an. Beyond its redistributive role, Zakat has significant potential to alleviate poverty and promote broader socioeconomic empowerment when managed effectively. This study introduces the Jellyfish Zakat Model, a layered, interest-free fund system that combines structured fund pooling with Islamic social finance to direct Zakat toward immediate relief and sustainable nano-entrepreneurship. The model operates through cyclic, layered fund pools that transfer Zakat from local (micro) to national (macro) levels in a “jellyfish-like" pattern. Each layer allocates a large share to urgent aid for disadvantaged groups and a smaller share to fund nano-businesses for vulnerable individuals, helping them achieve self-sufficiency. This approach aligns with Shariah objectives of wealth sharing and social justice, fostering financial inclusion and sustainable development. Methodologically, the paper uses conceptual models and an illustrative distribution analysis based on secondary macroeconomic data from Bangladesh. Results reveal that, with full collection, the framework could support around 3.54 million nano-enterprises annually and deliver direct aid to about 53 million households. Even with a conservative 20% collection rate, over 700,000 nano-enterprises could benefit. The study also explores conditions needed for success, including regulatory reform, Islamic financial literacy, and multi-layered governance. It discusses policy implications for Islamic finance, highlighting that a well-structured, multi-tier Zakat system could transform obligatory charity into a powerful tool for socioeconomic growth among vulnerable populations.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Zakat
• Islamic social finance
• Islamic financing
• nano-entrepreneurship
• poverty alleviation
• financial inclusion

Girişimciliğin Güçlendirilmesine Yönelik Çok Katmanlı Üretken Zekât Çerçevesi

Öz

İslam’ın temel ibadetlerinden biri olup servetin Kur’an’da belirtilen sekiz hak sahibi sınıfa (asnaf) yeniden dağıtılmasını öngören dini bir yükümlülüktür. Yeniden dağıtım işlevinin ötesinde, etkin biçimde yönetilen zekât yoksulluğun azaltılmasına ve daha geniş sosyoekonomik güçlenmeye katkı sağlayabilir. Bu çalışma, yapılandırılmış fon havuzlamasını İslami sosyal finans ilkeleriyle birleştirerek zekâtı hem acil ihtiyaçların karşılanmasına hem de sürdürülebilir nano girişimciliğin desteklenmesine yönlendiren katmanlı ve faizsiz bir fon sistemi olan Denizanası Zekât Modeli’ni geliştirmektedir. Model, zekât fonlarının yerel (mikro) düzeyden ulusal (makro) düzeye doğru katmanlar arasında aktarıldığı ve ardından hak sahiplerine yapılandırılmış biçimde yeniden dağıtıldığı döngüsel bir sistem üzerine kuruludur. Her katmanda fonların büyük bölümü dezavantajlı grupların acil ihtiyaçlarına, daha küçük bir bölümü ise seçilmiş hak sahiplerinin kendi gelirlerini oluşturabilecekleri nano işletmelere tahsis edilmektedir. Yöntem olarak çalışma, kavramsal modelleme ile Bangladeş’e ilişkin ikincil makroekonomik verilere dayanan senaryo temelli bir dağılım analizini birleştirmektedir. Tam tahsilat varsayımı altında modelin yılda yaklaşık 3,54 milyon nano işletmeyi destekleyebileceği ve yaklaşık 53 milyon haneye doğrudan yardım sağlayabileceği hesaplanmaktadır. Yüzde 20 tahsilat senaryosunda dahi 700 binden fazla nano işletmenin desteklenmesi mümkündür. Bulgular, modelin uygulanabilirliğinin düzenleyici çerçeve, kurumsal yönetişim, şeffaflık, finansal okuryazarlık ve etkin çok katmanlı koordinasyona bağlı olduğunu göstermektedir. Çalışma, iyi yapılandırılmış bir zekât yönetim sisteminin dini yeniden dağıtım işlevini korurken finansal kapsayıcılık ve ekonomik güçlenmeye de katkı sunabileceğini ortaya koymaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Zekât
• İslami sosyal finans
• üretken zekât
• nano girişimcilik
• yoksulluğun azaltılması
• finansal kapsayıcılık

Kaynakça

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