The practice of local economic development and Maqāṣid al-Sharī‘ah : Evidence from a Pesantren in West Java, Indonesia
International Journal of Islamic and Middle Eastern Finance and Management
ISSN: 1753-8394
Article publication date: 3 June 2019
Issue publication date: 11 November 2019
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to study the Pesantren’s role in alleviating the poverty in rural region, and the discussion is connected to the theory of local economic development and Maqāṣid al-Sharī‘ah.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper engages a case study and an interview to get insight into the subject matters.
Findings
This study finds that the roles of an entrepreneur and a stimulator are evident from the sampled Pesantren in empowering the local economy and the underprivileged community. Further, inasmuch as the fundamental concept of local economic development is in line with Maqāṣid al-Sharī‘ah, the evidence from the sampled Pesantren is also representative of its role in actualising it. This study is relevant for academics, local government in Indonesia and other related stakeholders.
Practical implications
This paper credits both theoretical and practical implications for academics and the government. Firstly, by discussing the concept of prosperity from the Western and Islamic perspective, this paper creates a notion that these theories are harmonisable. Secondly, by sampling a Pesantren to draw how these two concepts are applied to advance a rural economy, this paper comes out with the hands-on advice for Indonesian government to legally engage with the existing Pesantrens to perform its rural development programmes.
Social implications
While a Pesantren’s role in empowering a disadvantaged community is comprehensively investigated, an accurate evidence is documented which can best challenge its radicalism and terrorism issues.
Originality/value
This is the first study to harmonise the theory of local economic development and Maqāṣid al-Sharī‘ah and presents the practical evidence from a Pesantren.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The corresponding author would like to thank LPDP (Lembaga Pengelola Dana Pendidikan), for education grant awarded for pursuing a Master’s degree in Academy of Islamic Studies, Department of Shariah and Management, University of Malaya. In addition, special thanks to Prof. Masadul Alam Choudhury, who has given substantive comments and valuable inputs for this paper.
Citation
Hudaefi, F.A. and Heryani, N. (2019), "The practice of local economic development and
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited