Islamic Economic Principles and Family Law: A Study of Inheritance and Property Rights in Protecting Children
Keywords:
Islamic family law, child protection, inheritance (mirāth); zakat; waqf, guardianship (wilāyah), property rights, Pakistan; IndonesiaAbstract
This study examines the role of Islamic economic principles in strengthening child protection within the framework of family law, with particular emphasis on inheritance distribution and property rights. Islamic family law, grounded in the Qur’anic system of mirāth (inheritance), establishes fixed and enforceable shares for children, thereby safeguarding their financial rights and protecting them from economic exploitation following the death of a parent. In addition to inheritance rules, Islamic economic instruments such as zakat, waqf, and mahr contribute significantly to child welfare by supporting vulnerable children, reducing economic insecurity, and promoting social justice within the family structure.
Using a comparative legal approach, this research analyzes the child protection frameworks of Pakistan and Indonesia as two Muslim-majority countries that integrate Islamic legal principles with contemporary civil legal systems. The study explores the effectiveness of inheritance governance, guardianship arrangements, and property-right protections in ensuring children’s economic security and developmental well-being. The findings reveal that although Islamic law provides a comprehensive normative framework for protecting children’s financial rights, practical challenges persist due to informal inheritance practices, weak institutional enforcement, limited judicial supervision, and insufficient public legal awareness.
The study argues that strengthening the governance of inheritance administration, guardianship mechanisms, and Islamic welfare institutions can substantially improve child protection outcomes in Muslim societies. It further concludes that harmonizing Sharia-based economic principles with modern legal and administrative frameworks offers a sustainable and equitable model for protecting children’s property rights, financial dignity, and long-term social welfare.
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