A Review of the Scope of Religious Requirements in Social Security Policy Research

Purpose: This study aims to examine the religious imperatives in social security policymaking with a particular emphasis on the concept of Social Takaful.
Methodology: The research method is based on a systematic review of scholarly sources, including books, peer-reviewed articles, and academic theses published up to July 2024. A comprehensive search was conducted in reputable academic databases, followed by multi-stage screening based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Quality appraisal was conducted using the CASP tool, and 51 sources were ultimately analyzed.
Findings: The findings indicate that while numerous works address welfare, social justice, and Islamic perspectives on social security, there is no comprehensive study that systematically derives the religious imperatives of social security policymaking from the framework of Social Takaful. Content analysis of the selected studies revealed that the core dimensions of Islamic social policy include social and economic justice, mutual responsibility and solidarity, social welfare, spiritual growth, human dignity, duties of the Islamic state, public participation, universal coverage, empowerment, and adherence to religious principles.
Accordingly, the Islamic state, beyond its direct supportive role, is tasked with responsibilities such as managing religious endowments (waqf), meeting the basic needs of the poor, raising orphans, supporting the disabled, and paying the debts of those unable to fulfill them. Moreover, informal institutions such as the family, kinship, community, and networks of brotherhood play a central role in realizing Social Takaful.
Conclusion: The study concludes that a systematic review of Islamic sources can provide a solid foundation for identifying and reconstructing a conceptual framework for Islamic social policymaking. This can contribute to designing indigenous models of social security characterized by justice, ethics, and sustainability.