From Private Practice to State-Controlled Sector: The Transformation of Zakat in Sudan (1989-2018)
Between 1989 and December 2018, zakat in Sudan was transformed from a private practice of charitable giving to less fortunate relatives and neighbors into a central instrument of the state’s social policy. This article explores how this transformation was effected, including how the state sought to...
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| In: | URI:https://journals.openedition.org/esma, |
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| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Article ou chapitre numérique |
| Language: | Anglais |
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Égypte Soudan mondes arabes
2025
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | Accès Université d'Orléans et IFPM Accès Université d'Orléans et IFPM |
| Summary: | Between 1989 and December 2018, zakat in Sudan was transformed from a private practice of charitable giving to less fortunate relatives and neighbors into a central instrument of the state’s social policy. This article explores how this transformation was effected, including how the state sought to legitimize the changes in the eyes of the public. It investigates the bureaucratic maze that developed around zakat, bringing to light the practices and politics that facilitated the instrumentalization of zakat for the state’s projects. In doing so, it shows how important aspects of zakat were lost, namely solidarity, generosity, and philanthropy among Muslims. This article argues that the instrumentalization of zakat by the state has served the interests of politicians at the expense of beneficiaries. It shows how the development of rent-seeking practices around zakat triggered general mistrust of the zakat establishment, particularly among payers of zakat. |
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