Establishing the Madani City Concept Through the Enhancement of Mosques and Waqf Land to Revitalise Malaysia's Local Town
List of Authors
Arina Rahmat, Azila Ahmad Sarkawi, Azra Rahmat, Kamariah Abdullah, Norainah Abdul Rahman, Salbiah Mokhtar, Siti Mazwin Kamaruddin
Keyword
Madani City Concepts, Role of Mosque, Waqf Land Development, Local Town
Abstract
Redeveloping local cities in Malaysia poses significant challenges. Many of these towns, while serving as the focal point for local communities, often lack strong economic drivers, inclusivity, and visual appeal. In response, Malaysia's 10th Prime Minister has emphasised the need to optimise the use of waqf land and mosques to better serve society. However, to date, there has been no comprehensive development initiative that harnesses the potential of mosques or waqf land to revitalise local towns. This paper proposes a conceptual framework for Madani City, focused on enhancing the roles of mosques and waqf land. The objectives of the study are threefold: To examine documents and literature related to the Madani concept and urban development; To explore the relationships among key concepts, theories, and strategies in the literature to formulate a conceptual framework; and To validate the proposed framework through interviews with experts in town planning, waqf development, and Islamic city studies. The methodology begins with content analysis of primary documents, followed by a systematic literature review of relevant scholarly works. Expert interviews are then conducted to further assess and refine the framework. The result of this process is the PEACE Madani City Concept, a strategic framework designed to empower mosques and waqf land in the revitalisation of local towns. PEACE stands for five core pillars essential to the Madani city vision: Physical – Optimising the use of waqf land and expanding the functional role of mosques; Economy – Generating income through sustainable, productive projects; Administration – Ensuring effective governance and collaboration between State Islamic Religious Councils and local authorities; Community – Promoting social well-being, awareness, and active community participation; Environment – Enhancing the image, identity, and sustainability of local towns. This framework positioning PEACE as a strategic model for inclusive and sustainable urban development in line with the Madani philosophy.