KUCHING, Oct 15 — 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 said 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.
“Together, they are more than charity. They represent a vision for justice. They can power education, strengthen healthcare, build climate resilience, provide housing, and drive digital transformation.
“Together, they can ensure no child grows up uneducated, no family is left without shelter, and no society is abandoned to the margins,” he said in his speech during the closing ceremony of the 14th World Zakat and Waqf Forum Annual Meeting and International Conference here today.
The text of the speech was read out by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar.
The Prime Minister said Islam has never been a mere spectator in history, but a driving force that once established hospitals, libraries, observatories and universities, institutions founded not from charity alone but from systematic, institutional responses to human needs.
“At the heart of that flourishing were two engines — zakat and waqf. They ensured justice, redistributed wealth, funded knowledge, and upheld dignity for the vulnerable. When these institutions thrived, civilisation soared. When they declined, we faltered.
“The lesson of history is clear. If we want to rise again, we must restore and renew these pillars,” he said.
Meanwhile, Anwar also urged Muslims to embrace science and technology and not fear them, emphasising that tools such as artificial intelligence (AI), digital media, fintech and blockchain can be harnessed for good.
“But we must be guided by what I call our supreme AI — Al-Quran Intelligence. The Quran provides timeless principles of justice, compassion and accountability. Technology without values becomes dangerous; technology guided by the Quran becomes transformative.
“Let us imagine waqf assets managed on blockchain for full transparency, zakat distributed through AI-driven platforms to maximise efficiency, and digital media used to inspire global solidarity. This is within our reach, if we are bold,” he added. — Bernama
