The study examined how productive zakat programs contribute to the economic independence of mustahiq, or zakat recipients, in South Sumatra Province. The research highlights how zakat, traditionally viewed as a religious obligation, is increasingly being used as a public policy instrument to reduce poverty and strengthen economic empowerment in Indonesia.
Indonesia continues to face structural poverty challenges, including limited access to education, healthcare, and stable economic opportunities. Conventional social assistance programs often focus on short-term consumption support, which may help families temporarily but rarely creates sustainable economic independence. The productive zakat model attempts to address this issue by channeling zakat funds into business capital, equipment, and entrepreneurial support for low-income communities.
According to the researchers from STISIPOL Candradimuka, productive zakat has become increasingly relevant in modern public administration because it combines social welfare, economic empowerment, and community development within one policy framework.
The research used a qualitative descriptive approach. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, field observations, and documentation analysis involving BAZNAS leaders, zakat distribution staff, regional zakat collection units, and mustahiq who received productive zakat assistance. Researchers analyzed the program using three indicators: resource availability, implementation process, and achievement of program goals.
The findings show that BAZNAS South Sumatra regularly allocates productive zakat funds each year. Assistance is distributed in several forms, including business capital, work equipment, and business support facilities. Recipient selection is conducted through administrative verification and field assessments to identify eligible mustahiq with business potential.
Despite stable funding, the study identified serious operational limitations. One of the main challenges is the lack of trained business mentors and field officers responsible for guiding mustahiq after the funds are distributed. The number of facilitators is not proportional to the number of beneficiaries, making continuous supervision difficult.
Researchers found that mentoring activities are often incidental rather than systematic. Many mustahiq experience problems related to marketing, business competition, production management, and financial planning without receiving sufficient guidance from the program administrators. This weakens the sustainability of many small businesses funded through productive zakat.
The study also revealed differences in how recipients understand the concept of productive zakat. Some participants clearly understood that the funds were intended for long-term business development and economic independence. However, others treated the assistance as short-term consumptive aid and used the money for daily household expenses rather than business investment.
Low levels of economic literacy and entrepreneurial knowledge were identified as major factors affecting the effectiveness of the program. According to the researchers, empowerment programs cannot succeed through financial assistance alone. Beneficiaries also need continuous education, mentoring, and monitoring to develop sustainable business practices.
Even with these challenges, the productive zakat program produced measurable positive outcomes for several recipients. Some mustahiq successfully increased their business income, expanded operations, and improved their family’s economic stability. Participants who showed the greatest progress generally had prior business experience, strong motivation, and more intensive mentoring support.
The research argues that the success of productive zakat programs depends not only on the amount of money distributed, but also on governance quality, institutional capacity, and continuous evaluation systems. Strong monitoring and outcome-based evaluation are considered essential for ensuring that productive zakat truly supports long-term poverty reduction.
In an ethical paraphrase of the study’s conclusions, Nopriawan Mahriadi and colleagues from STISIPOL Candradimuka emphasized that productive zakat should function as an empowerment instrument rather than merely a consumptive assistance program. Without structured mentoring and stronger institutional management, the transformative potential of zakat may not be fully achieved.
The study also recommends strengthening the institutional capacity of BAZNAS South Sumatra by increasing the number and quality of business mentors, expanding entrepreneurship training, and implementing continuous monitoring systems focused on long-term outcomes rather than administrative reporting alone.
Researchers believe productive zakat could become a strategic public policy instrument for sustainable social development in Indonesia if integrated with broader economic empowerment programs. In the long term, successful mustahiq could potentially transition into muzakki, or zakat contributors, creating a sustainable cycle of economic empowerment within society.
Author Profiles
Nopriawan Mahriadi is a public administration researcher at STISIPOL Candradimuka specializing in public policy and social welfare governance.
Amiruddin Sandy is an academic researcher focusing on public administration, governance, and community empowerment.
M. Febrianza is a researcher in public sector governance and socio-economic development programs.
Source
Mahriadi, N., Sandy, A., & Febrianza, M. (2026). Public Program Evaluation of Productive Zakat in Encouraging Mustahiq Economic Independence. Asian Journal of Applied Business and Management (AJABM), Vol. 5, No. 2, pp. 473–482. DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/ajabm.v5i2.30, URL: https://journalajabm.my.id/index.php/ajabm
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