Green Zakat: A Systematic Literature Review of Environmental Impact and Sustainable Financing Models

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to systematically examine the development of Green Zakat research by identifying dominant thematic clusters, methodological approaches, and contributions of zakat to environmental sustainability and sustainable financing. The study intends to clarify how zakat has evolved from a traditional socio-religious instrument into a mechanism supporting green economy and sustainable development agendas.

Design/Methodology/Approach

The study adopts a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) approach using the PRISMA framework. An initial dataset of 43 articles was screened through inclusion and exclusion criteria, resulting in 8 selected articles published between 2021 and 2025. Qualitative content analysis was employed to classify the literature into thematic clusters related to green zakat, environmental sustainability, governance, and sustainable resource management.

Findings

The findings reveal four dominant research clusters: (1) green economy and productive zakat, (2) environmental sustainability and SDGs integration, (3) environmental resource management and agro-sustainability, and (4) governance and accountability of sustainable zakat institutions. The results indicate that productive zakat integrated with green economic principles is the most extensively explored theme, highlighting zakat’s growing role in promoting environmentally responsible economic empowerment.

Research limitations/implications

This study is limited to peer-reviewed articles indexed in selected academic databases within a five-year publication window. Future research may expand the scope by incorporating bibliometric analysis, empirical field studies, or comparative cross-country assessments to deepen understanding of green zakat implementation.

Practical implications

The findings provide guidance for zakat institutions and policymakers to design environmentally oriented zakat programs, particularly in productive sectors such as MSMEs, agriculture, clean water provision, and renewable resource management. The proposed thematic clusters can serve as a reference framework for program evaluation and policy formulation.

Social implications

By integrating environmental sustainability into zakat distribution, green zakat initiatives contribute to poverty alleviation while simultaneously enhancing ecological resilience, community welfare, and long-term socio-environmental sustainability, especially among vulnerable and mustahik communities.

Originality/value

This study offers a structured and comprehensive mapping of Green Zakat research through a systematic literature review, presenting a novel thematic framework that bridges Islamic social finance with environmental sustainability. The findings enrich the academic discourse by positioning zakat as a strategic instrument for sustainable development rather than solely a redistributive mechanism.