By Zayed Alzyoud
Dean of the School of Sharia at the University of Jordan (UJ) Prof. Abdul Rahman Alkilani took part in the 46th AlBaraka Islamic Economics Symposium, held under the theme “The Righteousness and Benevolence in Islamic Economy: The Future Forward”.
Alkilani said the symposium is spotlighting a key development priority, with discussions focused on strengthening the “righteousness and benevolence” sector by moving beyond mainly individual initiatives towards institutional models grounded in good governance, transparency and accountability.
He added that participants are also examining impact measurement tools aligned with the objectives of Islamic law, alongside broader humanitarian and development goals.
Alkilani said the next stage calls for strategies that empower vulnerable groups and help shift beneficiaries from receiving assistance to becoming active contributors to economic development, through skills-building, stronger productive capacities and wider opportunities for participation.
The symposium brings together officials, scholars and decision-makers, as well as representatives of financial and development institutions from 18 countries, making it one of the region’s largest specialised forums in Islamic economics.
Organisers said the 46th edition features six main sessions and more than 20 academic and applied themes, addressing key tools in the sector, including zakat, waqf (endowments), sadaqah (voluntary charity), Qardh al-hasan (interest-free lending) and volunteering.