When we think of waqf (Islamic endowment), many of us picture mosques or schools built centuries ago. But Dompet Dhuafa, an Indonesian Islamic philanthropic institution, is giving waqf a modern twist—and the impact is nothing short of inspiring.
What’s Waqf Anyway?
Let’s start simple. Waqf is a form of charitable giving in Islam where someone donates an asset (like land or a building) and the benefits from that asset are used to help others—forever. It’s like planting a tree whose fruit will keep feeding people long after you’re gone.
Dompet Dhuafa acts as the nazhir, or manager of these waqf assets. They either develop them themselves or collaborate with trusted partners. The goal? To generate a “waqf surplus”—essentially income from these assets—that is then used to fund life-changing services for the poor and underservedLaporan Tahunan Dompet ….
Healthcare: Waqf That Heals
Imagine going to a hospital where everything is free because someone decided to donate land decades ago. That’s the power of waqf in healthcare.
Dompet Dhuafa has built and manages several hospitals funded through waqf, including:
- RS Rumah Sehat Terpadu (RST) in Bogor, offering completely free health services to the poor since 2012.
- RS Aka Medika Sribhawono in Lampung, originally owned by the province’s first heart specialist, now serving the public thanks to waqf funds.
- RS Mata Ahmad Wardi in Banten, which specializes in eye care for the poorLaporan Tahunan Dompet ….
- RS Hasyim Asy’ari in Jombang, which combines physical, mental, social, and spiritual healing—true holistic careLaporan Tahunan Dompet ….
These are just a few of the hospitals created from the goodwill of individuals who donated land or property, allowing Dompet Dhuafa to turn that into sustainable, free medical services for the community.
Education: Waqf for the Mind
Education is another area where waqf is making waves. Dompet Dhuafa uses endowment funds to support institutions from preschool all the way to university level.
Take Al Syukro Universal Islamic School, for instance—it’s a full-scale education complex that was endowed and is now producing surplus funds used for other programs. In 2023 alone, they donated over IDR 1.3 billion in waqf surplus back to Dompet DhuafaLaporan Tahunan Dompet ….
Then there’s STIM Budi Bakti, a campus on 8.5 hectares of waqf land, dubbed the “People’s Campus.” It has already graduated over 5,000 students, many of whom became entrepreneurs and changemakers in their communitiesLaporan Tahunan Dompet ….
And let’s not forget the SMART Cibinong School, a waqf gift from a private company, which now educates hundreds of students from kindergarten to junior high schoolLaporan Tahunan Dompet ….
Farming and Food Security: Waqf Grows Here Too
Waqf isn’t just about buildings—it can be about land, too. Dompet Dhuafa is using agricultural waqf to help farmers stand on their own feet.
In 2023, they managed 1,000 hectares of rice fields in 8 different locations. The harvest from these fields goes directly to their food aid programs like Tebar Zakat Fitrah and Food for Dhuafa, creating a beautiful closed-loop systemLaporan Tahunan Dompet ….
They’re also helping livestock farmers through the DD Farm program, which trains farmers in modern techniques and connects them to markets—some of their produce even ends up in Dompet Dhuafa’s Tebar Hewan Kurban program during Eid.
A Simple Waqf Model, Big Results
Here’s how the model works:
- A donor (wakif) gives an asset—like land or a building.
- Dompet Dhuafa manages it or partners with someone who can.
- That asset generates income or is used directly (e.g. a hospital).
- The benefits go to mauquf ‘alaih—the people in need.
This approach ensures sustainability and impact. And the results are visible: healthcare for the poor, education for underprivileged youth, and stable income for farmers.
Final Thoughts: Waqf That Works
What Dompet Dhuafa is doing is a perfect blend of traditional Islamic values and modern social innovation. They’ve taken the timeless concept of waqf and turned it into a powerful engine for change—one hospital bed, classroom, and rice paddy at a time.
If you’re looking for proof that waqf still matters in today’s world, look no further than Dompet Dhuafa. They’re not just managing assets—they’re managing hope.
Know more about Dompet Dhuafa by visiting here.