Peranan zakat dalam memperkasa dakwah di Sabah: Analisis isu dan cabaran kontemporari

[The role of zakat in empowering da‘wah in Sabah: An analysis of issues and contemporary challenges]

Abstract

Artikel ini meneliti peranan zakat sebagai instrumen penting dalam memperkasa dakwah di Sabah yang berdepan dengan cabaran kemiskinan, pendidikan, pemerkasaan mualaf serta isu pelarian dan stateless. Kajian ini menggunakan kaedah analisis dokumen dengan merujuk kepada data Majlis Ugama Islam Sabah (MUIS), Jabatan Perangkaan Malaysia (DOSM), serta kajian akademik terdahulu. Dapatan menunjukkan bahawa lebih 50% agihan zakat disalurkan kepada fakir miskin, diikuti dengan pelbagai bentuk sokongan pendidikan seperti dermasiswa, elaun guru, yuran pengajian dan penubuhan pusat pendidikan asnaf. Bagi golongan mualaf, zakat berperanan menyediakan bantuan material, sokongan spiritual dan pendidikan agama untuk menjamin kelangsungan iman. Sementara itu, isu pelarian dan stateless yang tidak diiktiraf sebagai penerima zakat ditangani melalui kerjasama strategik dengan badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) yang menyediakan pendidikan dan kebajikan alternatif. Secara keseluruhannya, zakat bukan sahaja berfungsi sebagai mekanisme kebajikan tetapi juga sebagai medium dakwah yang memperkukuh kesejahteraan sosial dan memperkasakan masyarakat Islam di Sabah. Kajian ini mencadangkan agar strategi inovatif dan dasar baharu diperkenalkan bagi memperluas impak zakat dalam menghadapi cabaran dakwah kontemporari di Sabah.

This article explores the role of zakat as a key instrument in strengthening da‘wah in Sabah, a state that continues to face challenges of poverty, education, the empowerment of new Muslims (muallaf), as well as refugee and stateless issues. The study adopts a document analysis approach by examining data from the Majlis Ugama Islam Sabah (MUIS), the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), and previous academic research. Findings reveal that more than 50% of zakat distributions are allocated to the poor and needy, followed by various forms of educational support such as scholarships, teachers’ allowances, tuition fees, and the establishment of asnaf education centres. For muallaf, zakat plays a crucial role in providing material assistance, spiritual support, and religious education to ensure the continuity of faith. Meanwhile, issues concerning refugees and stateless communities—who are not formally recognised as zakat recipients—are addressed through strategic collaborations with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that provide alternative education and welfare. Overall, zakat functions not only as a welfare mechanism but also as a medium of da‘wah that reinforces social well-being and empowers Muslim communities in Sabah. The study recommends the introduction of innovative strategies and new policies to broaden the impact of zakat in addressing contemporary da‘wah challenges in the state.