National Waqf Month Must Be More Than Ceremony

Indonesia has officially designated the month of Muharram as National Waqf Month, a move intended to invigorate the country's social and economic development through the Islamic practice of waqf. The Ministerial Decree establishing this observance aims to provide a formal platform for waqf, recognizing its significant potential.

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The best appreciation for this KMA is not just by welcoming it ceremonially. The best appreciation is ensuring National Waqf Month truly becomes a moment of transformation.

However, the decree is seen not merely as a cause for celebration but as a critical call to action. The primary challenge facing waqf in Indonesia is not a lack of potential, but the inability to translate this vast potential into tangible, widespread benefits for society. The common description of waqf as a "sleeping giant" highlights a persistent issue: despite its recognized potential, waqf has not optimally contributed to public welfare. This points to serious shortcomings in governance, institutional capacity, public literacy, the professionalism of waqf managers (nazhir), asset legality, business models, and accountability.

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If waqf continues to be called to have great potential, but has not optimally provided public welfare, it means there is a serious problem with governance, institutions, literacy, the capacity of nazhir, asset legality, business models, and accountability.

Therefore, National Waqf Month should be viewed as a period for "rehabilitation" rather than just a celebration. The decree outlines key objectives: enhancing transparent and accountable waqf governance aligned with Sharia principles, increasing public participation, strengthening nazhir professionalism, promoting productive waqf development, boosting waqf literacy and education, and fostering collaboration among government bodies, Islamic financial institutions, waqf organizations, businesses, and the public. While these objectives are robust, their success hinges on strong execution, moving beyond mere ceremonies and social media posts to achieve real change.

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National Waqf Month should not be understood as a month of celebration, but as a month of improvement.

The core of the waqf movement must be tangible progress: ensuring waqf assets are secure, nazhirs are professional, public understanding is broadened, "waqf money" gains greater trust, productive waqf initiatives flourish, and the benefits of waqf are more widely felt. A crucial next step involves improving waqf literacy, as many still hold a limited view of waqf, often associating it solely with land for mosques or cemeteries. The true scope of waqf is far broader, encompassing money, movable assets, securities, commercial properties, educational institutions, and even environmental projects.

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Waqf can be in the form of money, movable assets, Islamic securities, productive gardens, commercial buildings, health facilities, educational institutions, even environmental projects and food security.