Zakat and Sustainable Development Goals: Overlap or Highly Compatible?

Abstract

The paper explores the compatibility of zakat towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The study applies library research that benefited from various relevant articles. The data were gathered from many reputable journals and other appropriate resources. The result show that zakat as one of Islamic obligations is highly compatible with SDGs instrument as well as most of the content of the SDGs reflects Islamic principles, in the case of Maqasid al Sharia. Zakat (alms) have a beneficial effect on poverty, hunger, outstanding education, economic justice, and good health, whether directly or indirectly.The particular SDGs objectives are consistent with Islamic zakat values such as SDG 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 14, and 16. Both zakat and SDGs have the same objectives accomplished in order to attain national and ummah well-being. A humble recommendation for the relevant stakeholders in coordination with other players, including the government, commercial sector, charitable, and civil society organizations will be critical as with other SDG collaborations.In order deeply to understand the relationship between zakat and SDGs evolved, further research should engage the empirical data from several proper respondents such as UNDP officers and zakat regulators as well as practitioners.