The Limits Of The Rhetoric Of Islamic Social Finance Through The Triptych Waqf, umran, Maash

Abstract

Through the Triptych waqf, umran, maash, the aim of the research is to explores the limits of the rhetoric which interpret sadaqah, zakat, waqf as elements of social finance. Among the main results in the research are: (1) The notion of social finance by assimilating sadaqah, zakat and waqf to capital impoverishes these phenomena that have deep historical roots and empties them of their substance; (2) The financialization of sadaqah, zakat and waqf leads to the extension of the domain of property, to the detriment of that of public goods and common goods, and to the increase in inequalities; (3)  This tendency constitutes a paradox to the extent that what has served for centuries to provide the essential social needs is subject to capture by private interests. The use of the adjective Islamic is more a matter of home-made lexicon than a result of a rigorous approach. At first glance, the rhetoric of Islamic social finance seems virtuous, but it turns out to be conceptually incoherent. What arouses the rhetoric of Islamic social finance is less difference than an exacerbated desire for convergence.