Innovating Wakaf for Business Excellence: A Review and Agenda for Future Studies Using Scopus AI Analysis

The growing potential of wakaf as a strategic instrument for socio-economic development is hindered by persistent challenges such as mismanagement, underutilized assets, lack of professional governance, and insufficient integration with modern business practices. While wakaf has traditionally served as a religious endowment for social welfare, its role in achieving business excellence, defined by sustainability, stakeholder satisfaction, and organizational performance, remains underexplored and fragmented in academic literature. To address this gap, this study aims to analyze the research landscape on innovating wakaf for business excellence by mapping key thematic areas, identifying influential scholars, and proposing a future research agenda grounded in empirical and theoretical coherence. A systematic and data-driven review was conducted using Scopus AI, based on a structured search string encompassing key terms related to wakaf, business excellence, innovation, and sustainability. The analysis, performed on 19 August 2025, included document retrieval, concept mapping, identification of topic experts, and thematic trend analysis. Findings reveal a growing body of literature centered on five core themes: wakaf governance, quality management, value creation, technological integration, and strategic management. The implications of this study are threefold: theoretically, it bridges Islamic social finance with mainstream management discourse; practically, it offers policymakers and waqf administrators actionable strategies for institutional reform; and methodologically, it demonstrates the value of systematic and data-driven analysis in mapping evolving research domains. This review provides a foundation for future empirical studies and innovation-driven approaches to wakaf excellence.