Zakat Distribution in Improving the Well-being of Asnaf: A Conceptual Review

Despite the potential of zakat as a poverty alleviation tool, Asnaf groups continue to face socio-economic challenges such as inability to meet their basic needs, digital gaps and entrepreneurial constraints. This article conceptually explores the role of zakat distribution in improving the well-being of the Asnaf based on two main approaches, namely traditional distribution and productive distribution. The traditional approach focuses on meeting basic needs such as food, shelter and health, while the productive approach emphasizes self-development, entrepreneurship education and long-term economic empowerment of the Asnaf. This study uses a qualitative design by analyzing the content of previous literature on the concept of zakat distribution, well-being and maqasid shariah. Data was purposefully collected from journal articles, reports from zakat institutions and relevant freelance studies, especially those published in the last decade. This article also presents a conceptual framework that incorporates the principles of maqasid shariah and well-being as a basis for evaluating the effectiveness of zakat distribution. The findings show that the productive approach has greater potential to lift the asnaf out of persistent poverty and strengthen the overall well-being dimension. Suggestions are also made for zakat institutions to design a highly effective distribution strategy and develop a holistic well-being assessment tool.