Zakat and Sustainable Development Goals
Does Islamic Almsgiving Reduce Food Insecurity?
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22434144 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Muhammad Bilal Zafar (0000-0001-6329-303X, University of Technology Malaysia, corresponding author), Yasir Aziz (0000-0003-4411-2517, City University of Science and Information Technology) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 11 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Publication date | 2026-06-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Food Ethics (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2364-6853 • E-ISSN: 2364-6861 |
| Publisher | Springer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1007/s41055-025-00200-1 |
| OpenAlex | W7125836503 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 51 |
This study examines whether Zakat, a mandatory Islamic social finance mechanism, effectively mitigates household food insecurity, thereby contributing to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 (Zero Hunger) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. Utilizing household-level data from the Pakistan Social and Living Standards Measurement (PSLM) Survey, integrated with district-level administrative Zakat disbursement records, we assess the impact of Zakat per capita on food insecurity as measured by the globally validated Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES). Employing ordered logistic regression alongside subsample and robustness analyses, we identify a statistically significant negative association between Zakat allocation and household food insecurity severity, even after accounting for demographic, socioeconomic, and regional controls. This relationship is particularly pronounced in urban areas, reflecting better institutional efficiency and targeted administrative systems. Although household characteristics, such as dependency ratios, education levels, gender of the household head, and socioeconomic status, substantially influence food security outcomes, Zakat remains a robust and independent determinant. These findings highlight Zakat’s potential to support global development agendas, specifically in achieving SDG targets related to hunger and poverty alleviation. The study underscores the importance of effectively integrating faith-based social finance into mainstream policy frameworks, particularly in resource-constrained and institutionally challenged contexts.
Dependency ratio · Food insecurity · Food security · Per capita · Per capita income · Poverty · Socioeconomic status · Sustainable development · Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations · Islamic Finance and Banking Studies · Religion, Society, and Development
The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2024
Multipartner governance and the urgency of poverty alleviation policy
Zakat and Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs ). Assessing the Ripple Effect of Obligatory‐Alms Spending on Education. Empirical Evidence From Pakistan
Effect of Covid-19 pandemic on household food insecurity
Insights into food security
The analysis of household surveys
Mostly Harmless Econometrics
Food Insecurity and Health
The nexus between zakat and poverty reduction, is the effective utilization of zakat necessary for achieving SDGs
Philanthropic zakat for the disadvantaged
The effects of crime and violence on food insecurity and consumption in Nigeria
Living on the edge
Cash transfers and high food prices
Can low-income households afford a healthy diet? Insufficient income as a driver of food insecurity in Europe
Social protection for enhanced food security in sub-Saharan Africa
Determinants and dynamics of food insecurity during Covid-19 in rural Bangladesh
Zakat and waqf as instrument of Islamic wealth in poverty alleviation and redistribution
Understanding the barriers to purchasing healthier, more environmentally sustainable food for people living with obesity and varying experiences of food insecurity in the UK
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |