Waqf Land Utilisation for Agricultural Development and Socio-economic Empowerment: a Critical Literature Review
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: The strategic utilisation of Waqf land for agriculture represents an important mechanism for achieving sustainable food security, rural resilience, and inclusive socio-economic development. However, existing reviews have primarily examined waqf from the perspectives of Islamic social finance or its general socio-economic functions, with limited synthesis of how waqf land utilisation contributes to agricultural development, governance, and community empowerment across different institutional and geographical contexts. This critical literature review addresses this gap by critically synthesising existing evidence and developing an integrated understanding of productive waqf land utilisation in support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). The review analysed 18 peer-reviewed publications published between 2009 and 2025, identified through searches of Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Four interrelated themes emerged: (i) sustainable agricultural practices and food security, (ii) socio-economic empowerment and rural development, (iii) institutional governance and legal frameworks, and (iv) innovative financing and management models. The findings demonstrate that productive waqf initiatives contribute significantly to food security, employment generation, poverty alleviation, and community resilience through sustainable agricultural development. Nevertheless, legal fragmentation, weak governance structures, management deficiencies, and liquidity constraints continue to restrict the effective utilisation and scalability of waqf land initiatives. Drawing upon Social Enterprise Theory and Stakeholder Theory, this review proposes an integrated conceptual framework that explains the interrelationships among governance, financing mechanisms, agricultural innovation, and socio-economic outcomes. Ultimately, the review emphasises that professionalised management, institutional collaboration, technological innovation, and harmonised legal frameworks are essential prerequisites for enhancing the contribution of waqf land to socio-economic development and supporting sustainable development objectives.
Language: English
Subfield: Accounting
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7169727294