Single Mothers, Refugees and Disabled Persons: A Review of Zakat Role in Malaysia

Zakat is a core instrument of Islamic social finance that promotes wealth redistribution, poverty alleviation and social justice. In Malaysia, zakat institutions play a central role in supporting vulnerable populations, including single mothers, refugees and persons with disabilities (Orang Kurang Upaya, OKU). This paper reviews how zakat supports these groups, examines their eligibility under the eight categories of asnaf, analyses key operational challenges faced by zakat institutions, and proposes strategies to improve zakat distribution to vulnerable beneficiaries. The study adopts a qualitative approach based on an integrative review of scholarly literature, government publications and institutional reports on zakat management in Malaysia. The findings indicate that single mothers, refugees and persons with disabilities are not recognised as independent asnaf categories, but can be assisted under existing categories such as fakir, miskin, al-gharimin, fi sabilillah, ibn al-sabil and muallaf, subject to meeting specific eligibility criteria. The review also highlights enduring constraints in manpower, finance, beneficiary identification and the rising number of vulnerable recipients, particularly refugees. To address these issues, the paper recommends strengthening eligibility assessment processes, enhancing human resource capacity, expanding collaboration with government agencies and NGOs, and leveraging digital technologies to improve outreach and empowerment programmes. Overall, a well-governed zakat system has significant potential to reduce poverty and social injustice, and to enhance the socio‑economic welfare of vulnerable groups in Malaysia.

Zakat, Islamic social finance, vulnerable groups, single mothers, refugees, OKU, asnaf, Malaysia

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