The Prospects of Cash Waqf in Enhancing Healthcare Services: Evidence from Kano State, Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70861/ujed20250202016Keywords:
Cash waqf, Islamic social finance, healthcare financing, Kano state, NigeriaAbstract
Islamic finance provides a faith-based framework for social and economic development grounded in equity, justice, and compassion. Within this framework, waqf (Islamic endowment) and its modern adaptation cash waqf serve as instruments of infāq (benevolence) for advancing community welfare. This study examines the prospects of cash waqf as an innovative Islamic financial model to bridge healthcare funding gaps and promote sustainable community health development. Using a qualitative research design, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with healthcare workers, beneficiaries, and religious leaders, and analyzed thematically. The findings reveal that cash waqf can complement public funding by ensuring financial consistency, improving accessibility, and enhancing service efficiency. Moreover, it embodies Islamic principles of taʿāwun (mutual assistance) and ʿadl ijtimāʿī (social justice). The study concludes that institutionalizing cash waqf within Kano’s healthcare system can strengthen health equity, promote shared responsibility, and foster sustainable development in line with the Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah (objectives of Islamic law). It recommends structured policy integration between waqf authorities and governmental health agencies, enhanced transparency in fund management, and sustained public education on cash waqf as a viable healthcare financing model.
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