GREEN WAQF AND GREEN ZAKAT AS COMPLEMENTARY INSTRUMENTS: A COMPARATIVE AND INTEGRATIVE FIQH FRAMEWORK

Abstract

Green Waqf and Green Zakat have emerged as innovative instruments within Islamic Social Finance to respond to environmental degradation and increasing climate-related vulnerabilities. Despite their growing adoption, the expanding use of the “green” label raises fundamental fiqh concerns regarding legal foundations, functional boundaries, governance arrangements, and the appropriate allocation of zakat and waqf for environmental purposes. This study aims to develop a comparative and integrative fiqh-based framework that clarifies the distinct roles and complementary functions of Green Waqf and Green Zakat within environmental and climate-related initiatives. Employing a conceptual and normative approach, the research analyzes both instruments through classical fiqh al-muʿāmalāt principles, including asset perpetuity, benefit allocation, ownership transfer, and contemporary governance considerations in Islamic Social Finance. The findings reveal substantive differences in legal characteristics, financial structures, risk profiles, and time horizons between Green Waqf and Green Zakat. Green Waqf is identified as more suitable for long-term, asset-based environmental projects that require capital preservation and sustainable impact, while Green Zakat is better directed toward short- to medium-term programs that enhance the socio-economic resilience of climate-vulnerable beneficiaries. Based on these distinctions, the study proposes an integrative framework that positions Green Zakat as a social protection and resilience-supporting mechanism, while Green Waqf serves as a durable asset base for environmental and climate adaptation initiatives. This framework demonstrates how zakat and waqf can operate in a complementary manner within an Islamic Social Finance ecosystem without compromising their respective legal mandates. The study contributes to the literature by offering a structured fiqh-oriented perspective that supports environmentally responsible finance while maintaining legal clarity, governance integrity, and institutional coherence.