Many models of economic growth and sustainable development like circular economy, doughnut economy, and sharing economy were articulated to address the global issues including poverty, climate change, and inequity. However, these models were not informed by traditional value-based worldviews. This systematic literature review aims to gain insights on the different models, practices, and drivers for Islamic sustainable development to inform a new discourse for sustainability. Besides, it intends to define emerging themes in sustainable development and explore the viability for adopting Islamic development models to promote inclusive, pro-poor, and human-centred development. The methodology adopted is systematic literature review to identify sustainability models, practices, and drivers in Islam. Policy recommendations and strategic directions are outlined based on the review.

The interplay between climate change and society requires the cultivation of deeper insights into the interdisciplinary connections between faith and development. This study seeks to undertake a grounded theory analysis of the Islamic narrative among policy makers about climate change and Islamic values. A focus group panel of key experts was conducted on the topic of sustainability and faith, using a climate policy canvas to gain insights into the role of faith in shaping perceptions and policies to mitigate climate change. The results showed that Islamic values can be in positive interaction with environmental responsibility and ecologically friendly behavior. Despite the divergent narratives between the Global South and North with regard to equity and liability, policy makers are mindful of the ecological imperatives and the need to mainstream ethical values in order to influence climate policy. This research reveals that Islamic values can influence the perceptions on and practice of climate action for both policy makers and the public. The study recommends supporting value-based initiatives for shaping a new discourse around climate policy.

Purpose — This study aims to construct ethnographic protocols to investigate the social and cultural elements associated with zakat. Despite Islamic scholarship articulating the values associated with zakat, most existing research has focused on quantitative approaches, leaving a significant gap in the exploration of the social and cultural dimensions of zakat. Design/Methodology/Approach — This study employed a systematic review of 21 selected authoritative textbooks and journal articles that addressed research worldview, agenda, methodology, and qualitative data analysis starting from 1979 to 2024. Furthermore, to bolster this initiative, 32 additional pertinent sources have been incorporated. The study reaffirms the notion of the rarity of ethnographic style within the broader scientific landscape, as evidenced by the publication of 722 articles in the Web of Science. The data generated were subjected to a qualitative content analysis procedure, which included decontextualisation, recontextualisation, categorisation, and compilation. Findings — This study has constructed protocols that incorporate an Islamic worldview and a pro-Islam agenda, utilising flexible strategies, ethnographic design, and robust data collection methods. Additionally, they encompass appropriate data analysis techniques, measures for validity, and effective data presentation. Findings demonstrate significant insights into the social roles of zakat, emphasising its role in strengthening community ties and enhancing social welfare and reinforcing shared values within the Muslim community. Zakat functions not only as an economic mechanism for wealth redistribution but also as a cultural institution that fosters solidarity, mutual responsibility, and religious identity. The ethnographic approach highlights how zakat practices are deeply embedded in communal traditions, shaping social relationships and reinforcing ethical and spiritual commitments among Muslims. Originality/Value — Zakat is often perceived as an economic instrument that helps in maintaining economic balance in society by circulating wealth from the rich to the poor. Zakat is importantly a social tool that ensures the social welfare of the needy. Understanding zakat in a societal context is essential for enhancing social cohesion and promoting economic redistribution within Muslim communities. In this regard, the study enriches the zakat discourse by shedding light on its social and cultural dimensions, which are often overlooked in academic discussions. Research Limitations/Implications — Acknowledging the limitations of this approach, further exploration into the dynamic relationship between zakat and social structures is needed. Practical Implications — This study contributes to zakat research by providing a comprehensive framework for qualitative inquiry, with implications for future research, policy, and practice in Muslim communities.

Previous researches have proven that the problem of frozen assets in Malaysia is increasing every year where the amount reached RM70 billion in year 2020. In recent days, hibah has been suggested as one of the important methods in distributing Muslims’ properties in Malaysia. In fact, this effort is seen as an attempt to facilitate the issue of frozen assets in Malaysia. This situation has inspired the authors to raise the awareness among public on the importance of using hibah as an alternative method in Islamic estate planning in Malaysia. This study discovers that social media plays a vital role in raising the awareness about hibah among Muslims as it can be easily published and accessed by the public. It is hoped that this study will be beneficial for the public to understand the role of social media in disseminating information about hibah as an alternative distribution method and to also able to cater the issue of frozen assets in Malaysia. This study recommends for a future study to be carried out by other researchers to tackle the issue of the role of social media influencers in promoting hibah. This study applies a doctrinal legal approach where the data collection is based on a library-based research as well as observations on YouTube videos. Keywords: hibah, Muslims, property, Syariah Court, social media Abstrak Kertas kerja ini bertujuan membincangkan pembangunan lestari dari perspektif Islam. Pembangunan lestari secara umum ialah pembangunan yang memenuhi keperluan semasa serta masa hadapan bagi mencapai kesinambungan antara pembangunan ekonomi, sosial dan alam sekitar tanpa menjejaskan keperluan bagi generasi seterusnya. Pembangunan lestari sangat mendapat perhatian dalam disiplin pembangunan termasuk dalam kalangan negara-negara Islam. Persoalannya, apakah perspektif Islam terhadap pembangunan lestari ini? Bagi mencapai tujuan tersebut, perbincangan dalam kertas kerja ini dibahagikan kepada dua bahagian. Pertama, mengenal pasti pandangan sarjana terhadap pembangunan lestari dari perspektif Islam. Kedua menganalisis dan merumuskan pandangan para sarjana terhadap pembangunan lestari dari perspektif Islam. Analisis ini dilakukan dengan menggunakan kaedah kepustakaan dan analisis kandungan. Penelitian mendapati bahawa pembangunan lestari dari perspektif Islam lebih luas berbanding pembangunan lestari yang lazim. Pembangunan lestari dari perspektif Islam ini merangkumi epistemologi dan tasawur Islam yang mempunyai acuan pembangunannya yang tersendiri melibatkan aspek fizikal, akhlak dan rohani. Kata Kunci: Pembangunan lestari, perspektif Islam