Kuala lumpur: Zakat and waqf are not merely instruments of charity but enduring civilisational strategies that have shaped and sustained communities for centuries, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said. He remarked that zakat serves as a force that redistributes wealth, purifies the soul, and binds society together, while waqf acts as an engine that multiplies impact and generates perpetual benefits.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Prime Minister Anwar highlighted that together, zakat and waqf are more than charity; they represent a vision for justice. They have the potential to power education, strengthen healthcare, build climate resilience, provide housing, and drive digital transformation. He emphasized that these mechanisms can ensure no child grows up uneducated, no family is left without shelter, and no society is abandoned to the margins. Anwar’s insightful remarks were delivered during the closing ceremony of the 14th World Zakat and Waqf Forum Annual Meeting and International Conference, with his speech text read out by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs), Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar.
The Prime Minister further elaborated on Islam’s historical role as a driving force that established hospitals, libraries, observatories, and universities, institutions that emerged not solely from charity but from systematic, institutional responses to human needs. He pointed out that at the heart of this flourishing were zakat and waqf, which ensured justice, redistributed wealth, funded knowledge, and upheld dignity for the vulnerable. Anwar asserted that when these institutions thrived, civilisation soared, but when they declined, societies faltered. He urged a renewal of these pillars to rise again.
Meanwhile, Anwar urged Muslims to embrace science and technology without fear, noting that tools such as artificial intelligence, digital media, fintech, and blockchain can be harnessed for good. He stressed the importance of being guided by what he termed “our supreme AI – Al-Quran Intelligence,” which provides timeless principles of justice, compassion, and accountability. Anwar warned that technology without values becomes dangerous, but when guided by the Quran, it becomes transformative. He envisioned waqf assets managed on blockchain for full transparency, zakat distributed through AI-driven platforms to maximize efficiency, and digital media used to inspire global solidarity. He believes this is within reach if bold steps are taken.