Executive Summary
In the context of Islamic values, zakat serves as a vital instrument for providing aid and empowerment to those in need. Ar-Riqab is among the 8 categories of zakat, traditionally defined as slaves or bondsmen. The abolition of slavery is one of Islam's measures to eliminate human discrimination. Ar-Riqab represents a category of zakat recipients that requires contextualization of its meaning to ensure zakat fulfills its primary function as an instrument for the welfare of the community.
The lack of consensus on the definition of Ar-Riqab has led some zakat management institutions to face challenges in distributing zakat to this group. A contextual and comprehensive understanding of zakat recipients, particularly Ar-Riqab, is necessary to ensure that eligible groups receive their rightful share of zakat funds. Moreover, the fact that Indonesia continues to grapple with social issues such as drug addiction, prostitution, sexual harassment and deviance, as well as a high prevalence of HIV/AIDS, underscores the need to critically examine these issues from a religious perspective, especially concerning recipients categorized under Ar-Riqab.
| Redefining The Scope of Asnaf Riqab to Address Contemporary Social Issues |  |
